






» # 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



-^f^TT-^ 



Shell' -.K..3- 



UNITEl) STATES OF A3IERICA. 



THB 



Philosophy of Judging. 



A MANUAL UPON THE SCORING OF EXHIBITION 

FOWLS ; INTENDED TO MEET THE WANTS OF 

TLIE GENERAL BREEDER AND THE 

EXHIBITOR, AS W^ELL AS THE 

PROFESSIONAL JUDGE. 




BY 



I. I^. KKLCH AND H. S.^BABCOCK:: 



ILLUSTRATED BY 

J. HKNRY LvEK. 



\ 



^s 



1889. 

W, D. Page, Publisher and Printer 

FORT WAYNE, IND. 




COPYRIGHT — 1889. 
W, D. PAGE. 

Ai; Rights Reserved. 



"h? 



M 



F^RKKATORY NOTK. 



The main o])jects of this boolc are outlined in the introduc- 
tory chapter; the classes of readers whom it is designed to 
help, are suggested by the sub-title. 

The general breeder, though he has no intention of becom- 
ing a professional poultry judge, certainly needs to understand 
how to score his fowls. The. score does not make the fowl— 
the fowl makes the score— but the- score does, to a large extent, 
measure the pecuniary value of the fowl. 

The breeder is constantly applied to for fowls scoring a given 
number of points; and unless he understands how to score 
them he must either send the birds out, hit or miss, which is a 
very unsatisfactory proceeding, or hire an expert to score 
them for him, which reduces his profits. If he can learn how 
to do this himself he can thus save himself much trouble, 
some annoyance and not a little expense. 

The exhibitor needs to possess similar information in order 
to properly select his fowls for exhibition. Unless he does he 
may leave the highest scoring specimens at home, and though 
really possessing birds that would enable him to win in the 
exhibition, he is, through lack of the necessary information, 
placed in a subordinate position. Of course he can hire an 



expert to select his fowls, but this makes an expense that he 
is often unwilling and soDietimes unable to incur. 

The book makes its own appeal to the professional judge; 
and, should its positions be adopted in practice and its reasons 
be accepted as sound, it cannot fail to render judging much 
more uniform and satisfactory throughout the country. 

As the work is based upon the practical experience of a 
judge who has for years been before the public, and has scored 
thousands and thousands of fowls annually, the reader can 
accept witli a considerable degree of confidence the method of 
scoring advocated in this volume. 

There needs only to be added the sincere wish of the authors 
that their aims may not fail and that the book may be of real 
service to the breeder, tlie exhibitor and the poultry judge. 




Chaptkr I. 



INTRODUCTORY, 

|0 HIL080PH Y deals with laws, principles and reasons; 
-^ art, with the application of rules, regardless of the under- 
lying principles. The philosophy of judging fowls is, therefore, 
a statement of the correct laws upon which accurate judging is 
based, an explanation of the reasons why certain "cuts" are 
made for given defects, an attempt to get at the basic jniuci- 
ples which should govern a judge in the poultry exhibition. 

The American Standard of Perfection gives the rules of the 
art of judging; the poultry judge iu his work in the exhibition 
room illustrates the application of those rules; but the philos- 
ophy of judging goes deeper than either the Standard or the 
work of the judge, ior it furnishes the reason for each of his 
acts in the application of the Standard] to the fowls exhibited. 

Correct, accurate and satisfactory judging of fowls requires 
not only a knowledge of the art, but of the philosophy of 
judging. The former is sometimes erroneous, always arbi- 
trary ; the latter is ever reasonable and just. It is possible 
that correct awards may be made by one ignorant of the phil- 
osophy of judging; he may follow some cast iron, inflexilile 
rule that really does justice ; but until he understands the 
principles upon which judging is based, until he is familiar 
with its philosophy, he cannot know that he is correct and 
cannot explain to others why he lias given the score he has to 
any specimen. 



6 Philosophy of Judging. 

A philosophy of judging is, therefore, necessary, if accurate 
and intelUgent judging of fowls is desirable. If the principles, 
upon which judging is based are fully comprehended, we may 
expect greater uniformity in the scores given by different 
judges, and greater satisfaction in the awards ; fewer com- 
plaints will be heard and juster criticisms will be made: 
wrangles will to a large extent cease to disgrace the poultry 
exhibition, and disagreements will be settled by a reference to 
plain and reasonable principles. 

The object of this work is to supply the need of a collection 
of principles upon which poultry judging can be intelligently 
conducted. Viewed in its true light it is a commentary upon 
the Standard, serving to explain the reasons upon which it is 
based, and pointing out, Avhere such is the case, any departure 
from true principles in that work. Its aim is to collect and 
collate j^rinciples, to explain rules, and to shed light in dark 
places. It is hoped that it will prove valuable alike to the 
poultry judge, the poultry breeder, and the poultry Standard 
maker. 

The principles upon which a Standard is based are not arbi- 
trary but natural, are not made but discovered. Only violation 
of principles is arbitrary. To discover true principles one must 
go to nature; must of her take lessons ; must consult her in 
her varied developments. Whenever one deserts nature there 
is danger of violating principle, of becoming arbitrary and 
unreasonable, and at last of becoming extremely absurd. To 
use a figure of speech, borrowed from one of the learned pro- 
fessions, we may say that nature is the constitutional law, the 
Standard the statute law of poultrydom. To the former the 
latter must bend. If the statute law, in any of its provisions,, 
is in conflict with the constitution, it is to that extent null and 
void. It may remain on the book, but when brought before 
the proper tribunal, the Supreme Court, it is declared uncon- 
stitutional and, therefore, of no effect. In the same way an 
arbitrary, unnatural and absurd requirement in the Standard 



Introductory. 7 

of Perfection, coming into conflict witli the higher law of 
nature, will become nugatory and void. Naturt>, however, is 
to be sought at her best, not at her worst or even her ordinary- 
developments. Only the best of nature will suffice for the 
perfect of man. A standard for a hundred point fowl must be 
made from the most perfect sections discoverable in nature, 
fitly and harmoniously blended into one symmetrical whole. 
Better than this we can never expect to do ; happy are we if 
we do as well. 

As the judge considers the statute law of the state, so the 
poultry judge should consider the Standard and its application. 
He should be perfectly unbiased, free from fear or favor, just, 
impartial, knowing neither friend nor foe. His first concern is 
what is the meaning of the Standard. This he is to gather 
from the language of its descriptions, from the definitions of 
its technical terms, and from the known intent of its makers. 
Oftentimes a statute, otherwise obscure, becomes perfectly 
clear and Intel hgible when the intent of the legislators is 
known. It sometimes happens, however, that the intent is so 
obscure as to lend considerable force to the observation of an 
acute lawyer, that in passing statutes legislators generally have 
no intent. In such cases its meaning must be ascertained 
from its own terms and from the common understanding of 
those terms in the community. Another and very vital con- 
sideration is, whether the requirements of the Standard are in 
conflict with nature, and therefore nugatory and void. This is 
a question to be decided only after due deliberation. The 
Standard should be upheld if possible ; its requirements should 
be insisted upon if any reasonable explanation can bring them 
into conformity with nature ; the benefit of every doubt be- 
longs to the Standard ; but if, after all, there is a flat antag- 
onism between the Standard and nature, if there is no possible 
way to harmonize the two, then ought not the judge to uphold 
the higher rather than the lower law, ought he not to decide 



8 Philosophy of Judging. 

in favor of nature rather than of an arbitrary, unnatural and 
perhaf)S absurd requirement? 

It would be well, if there were a tribunal, properly consti- 
tuted, to determine differences of opinion as to the meaning 
of the various requirements of the Standard, something- which 
would correspond in its action toward the Standard to the 
Supreme Court of a state in its action upon the statute law of 
that state. We, long ago, advocated sucli a tribunal to settle 
differences of opinion among judges and thus secure a greater 
uniformity in the interpretation of the Standard, and, as a 
consequence, greater uniformity in the scores of fowls. We 
do not despair of seeing such a tribunal eventually estab- 
lished; it does not exceed the bounds of possibility that the 
American Poultry Association will see its need and will create 
such a tribunal. That difierences of opinion do exist is well 
known; the poultry papers are tilled with complaints of this 
nature ; and artists, l)y their illustrations, give additional evi- 
dence upon this point. In the old SUutfhird of Excellence the 
back of a number of breeds is described as "Broad and flat at 
the shoulders and of medium length ; the saddle broad and 
rising with a concave sweep to the tail." In illustrating such 
breeds, and so in pictorially interpreting this requirement of 
the Standard, many artists have produced cuts in which the 
cape, back and saddle are all taken in this "concave sweep," 
the concave line extending from the neck to the tail without 
break or interruption, and no flatness of the back is indicated; 
and yet these cuts are claimed as life-like, in some cases as 
actual portraits, and true interpretations oi the requirement 
above quoted. But do such cuts give a true interpretation of 
the requirement? Ought a poultry judge to be influenced by 
them? Was such the intention of the framers of the Stand- 
ard ? Is this in accordance with the requirements of nature ? 
Do not the fowds, as a matter of fact and of common ol)serva- 
tion, have a back which appears flat across the shoulders, 
slopes downward to the saddle, and rises with the saddle in a 



Introductorv. 9 

concave sweep until the tail is reached ? And if such is the 
case, are not the illustrations wrong, and as interpretations of 
the Standard in conflict with nature and presumably with the 
Standard makers? These illustrations do influence some 
judges in making their awards, .l)ut ought they to exercise 
such an influence? And until there is established a com- 
petent and authoritative tribunal to settle such points of 
difterence, how can we hope to secure perfect uniformity in 
judging? 

In this work we expect to show cuts that are made from a 
careful study of living specimens, that will be, indeed, ideal 
cuts, but at the same time in harmony with nature. Later we 
shall give actual measurements of living specimens, showing 
the proportions that exist between the different parts, and ex- 
plaining more fully the true principles upon which all poultry 
cuts should be made. We hope to not only justify the use of 
natural, life-like, pictorial representations of fowls, but also to 
prove that such representations are really more beautiful than 
the misleading monstrosities that have perverted the taste and 
blinded the judgment of judge and breeder throughout the 
country. The artist has faithfully wrought out pictures that 
ought to do much to correct the vitiated taste of the people 
and to call us all back to sound reason, common sense, an<l a 
purer ideal in poultry matters. 

The Authors. 



The su])ject of profile has been quite fully discussed in the 
poultry journals of late, but as there are some who do not 
fairly appreciate the difterence between a profile view and the 
view ordinarily shown in poultry pictures, I have made a 
rough sketch indicating the principal points of variation. The 
profile is the same as the profile of " Mainspring No. (55(i5" in 
the body of this work, while the dotted lines represent the dif- 
ference in contour in a quartering view l>elo\v the eve — the 



10 



Philosophy of Judging 




[This sketch also sliows our method of measiiremeiit, ] 



Intkoductoky. 11 

view Jiiost frequently given in pictures, the artist's aim being 
usually to represent the fowls as one would see them standing 
in their own yards. A quartering view shows to a greater or 
less extent the n-idtlt of breast, hence the outline of breast has 
a more forward sweep ; but when the fowl is below the eye the 
breast also appears to hang somewhat lower than in a profile 
view. For these reasons, those who have not carefully studied 
the subject will consider our profiles too scant in breast. Below 
the eye the width of the back is also shown to some extent, 
thus changing its contour. There are numerous other changes 
also, some of which I have outlined while others are too slight 
to be thus exhibited. 

Most fanciers have in their mind's eye an idea of what a 
fowl should look like in a picture ; this ideal is produced there 
by the pictures they have seen rather than by the fowls they 
have seen. Hence it became necessary in the profile move- 
ment to continually urge fanciers to go to their fowls and study 
them; and I must here repeat the request — stndy nature. We 
must get our ideals from lier and we must make our Standards 
by her guidance, not by our whims. The ideal that is "twenty- 
five per cent, better than nature" is a fraud — a delusion. 

Referring to the pictures in the body of this work: In a 
strictly profile view only one leg would be shown, but it has, 
for various artistic and other i-easons, been deemed advisable 
to show botli legs. In those cases where the fowd is repre- 
sented as standing with one foot raised, the length of the 
thigh shown is the proper length and not the shortened view 
that would naturally result from such an attitude. The shape 
of all other portions of the fowl — the body, neck, tail, etc., — is 
profile view as we interpret it for the various breeds. Our 
study has been Nature and the Standard. We hope our work 
may be found of practi<'al value ; we do not claim each picture 

is faultless. 

The Artist. 



Chapter II. 



PROFILE. 



Jrf T the thirteenth annual meeting of the American Poul- 
"^-^^ try Association, held at Indianapohs, Indiana, Janu- 
ary, 1888, a new principle was introduced into the Standard, a 
principle which has been productive of much discussion and 
no little warmth of feeling, and which has received various 
interpretations. At its fourteenth annual meeting held in 
Buflalo, New York, January, 1889, after a vigorous discussion, 
and after one thousand copies of the Standard of Perfection 
had been printed, embodying this principle, the American 
Poultry Association reconsidered its action at Indianapolis, 
and removed profiles from the Standard. We believe this 
action was injudicious and really set back the hands on the 
dial of progress. The principle, however, will survive, and 
the time will come when the American Poultry Association 
will regret this, its latest action. Evidence of the value of pro- 
file is not wanting and of its survival of the action of the 
American Poultry Association. Specialty clubs, whose object 
is to encourage, foster and develop some variety or breed of 
fowls, have already been formed, and some, at least, of these 
have adopted profiles as a guide to the training of the eye and 
the development of the tase for the perfection of form in those 
breeds. But outside of these clubs, and outside of the mem- 
bership of the American Poultry Association, there are hun- 
dreds and thousands ot breeders who recognize the value of 
profiles and who will eventually create a sentiment for the 



14 Philosophy of Judging. 

issuing of tiiem in the Standard that will admit of no denial. 

"Truth crushed to earth shall rise again; 

The eternal years of God are hers; 
But error, wounded, writhes with pain. 

And dies among his worshippers." 

This now historical resolution was introduced by Mr. P. H. 
Scudder, and in its amended form was in these words : 

^^ I more that tlie cliair he e)iipoireeed to add fo eacJi of the pre^ient 
committees, detailed foi' tlie purpoi^e of revm)ig tlte Sta)idard, two or 
three hreeden from tJiose liere as^^einhh'd; that each augmented com- 
mittee he emjjowered to )<eh'ct from ><ach ideal oafIi)ie>i as may he 
offered a composite or single oatline that sliall he tlie typical repre- 
sentative outline of tlie hreed in charge of the connnittee ; also, that 
committees raise funds for tlie purpose of procuring such outliites.^^ 

What is profile ? In an article by the mover of this resolu- 
tion, profile is clearly defined, and we cannot do ])etter than to 
quote from that article, Mr. Scudder's definition : "A perfect 
profile, in other words a profile as sharp an<l distinct as a view 
of half an orange, admits in the case of fowl illustrations of 
but one point of view, a point of view on a line drawn at right 
angle to the meridian line of the bird under inspection, or at 
right angle to a line that would split the beak, head, comb, 
neck, body and tail of the bird into two equal portions." This 
definition Mr. Scudder has enforced with such logical clearness 
that it leaves no chance for doubt as to what was his under- 
standing of the meaning of the term, wliatever may have l:>een 
his intention as to its application in judging. The point of 
view is correctly taken, for, as he says, "A profile drawing 
gives us more square inches of delineated form than any other 
possible drawing that is true to life." And more than tiiat, it 
is the view which exhibits more clearly than any other the 
characteristics of the creature delineate<l, l)e it bird or beast or 
man. It is the view selected by all artists in representing all 
manner of live stock, horses, cattle, sheep, swine, as well as 
poultry. It is the one vievi' by which any creature can- be 



Pkofii.e. 15 

most perfectly represented to tlie eye, and its trne symmetry 
be shown. 

What is its relation to symmetry ? Considering this ques- 
tion, independenth" of tlie action taken b}'^ the American 
Poultry Association, there can be no grounds for dispute. 
Symmetry, considered not as a section in the Standard's scale 
of points, but of itself, is a harmony of parts and proportion 
where the various portions are fitly blended together, each 
suited to the other and each heightening the effect of the 
other. Symmetry is therefore an element, and an important 
element of beauty, and is itself the product or result of per- 
fection of the parts. All paits that are perfect in form and 
perfecth' united produce perfection of symmetry. Symmetry 
has nothing to do with color, but is dependent upon form, a 
product of perfection of form. Profile representing form, and 
representing the largest and most perfect typical view of form, 
is an important element of symmetry. It alone conveys a 
very distinct idea of what symmetry is. Profile is therefore a 
part, an essential and controling part of symmetry, but is not 
the whole of symmetry. 

Profile, considered in connection with the action taken at 
Indianapohs, was defined, in the instructions to judges in re- 
feren<;e to its application in judging the section denominated 
symmetT}' as follows : "In the application of this section the 
profile outline of the different breeds should the guide so far 
as the side view or profile is represented. All other defects in 
shape found in the specimen should be considered under the 
subdivision for shape in the section where the defect is locat- 
ed," a definition which, though perhaps slightly ambiguous, 
fairlj' represents the intent of those who voted for profile 
and symmetry at the Indianapolis meeting. We believe a 
clearer and more exact definition might have been given, but 
this was too much for a certain faction who, at Buffalo, secured 
its repeal. 

In introducing profile the American Poultr}- Association has 



16 Philosophy of JiDGixt4. 

brought to the attention of breeders a far-reaching principle, 
and one, which, if it had remained in the Standard, would 
have been productive of important changes in judging, espec- 
ially in the line of securing greater accuracy and uniformity, 
for its influence would have been felt, not only in the section 
of symmetry; but in all sections where form is considered. As 
the profile would have represented the shape of the comb, 
beak, head, wattles, earlobcs, the sweep of the breast, the posi- 
tion and carriage of the wing, the contour of the fluff, the 
position and length of leg with appendages, the shape and 
carriage of the tail with its sickles and coverts, the back with 
the curving line of the cushion, and the arch of the neck, 
when view^ed from the side, it would have furnished a guide 
to judging form in all of these sections. It would have repre- 
sented to the eye of breeder and judge alike what must be 
deemed perfection of form in these parts, so far as the form 
can be considered from one point of view. 

When the influence of proflle is seen to thus extend not only 
to symmetry but to all sections in which form must be con- 
sidered ; wdien it is known to be the interpreter of the written 
descriptions of the configuration of the various parts of the 
fowl, it at once becomes evident that the introduction of pro- 
file outlines into the Standard was one of the most important 
and far-reaching innovations ever made by the American 
Poultry Association. The wisdom of its introducton was de- 
pendent upon the perfection of its execution. If the profiles 
were life-like, were in harmony with the anatomy and the 
development of the fowls, were, as the resolution demanded, 
"typical representative outlines of the breed," they would 
have worked good and only good to the poultry interests of the 
land; but if, on the other hand, the profiles were unnatural, 
w^ere in conflict with the development of the fowls, were 
merely ideals that had no likeness to anything in the heavens 
above, the earth below and the waters under the earth, their 
influence would have been pernicious and only ill could result 



Pr()Kiij<:. 17 

from their adoption. We are not to condemn a good thing, 
liowever, because it may be abused. We approve, and most 
heartily approve of profiles, but we insist that their value 
depends upon their correctness, that in the last analysis appeal 
must be had to nature, and that the only profiles that can be a 
benefit to the poultry interests, and of service to the breeder, 
the exhibitor and the judge, are those which are produced 
from a close and careful study of the fowls themselves. 

How, then, ought profiles to be made? 

They should be accurate, and accuracy can only be obtained 
by the closest attention to all the details of a fowl. If one 
could find that in any given breed the height of the fowl bore 
a certain definite relation to its length, that the length of the 
body had a fixed ratio to the length of the leg, if, indeed, the 
various parts bore a certain fixed relation to each other, and if 
that relation could be discovered and was representable in 
mathematical terms, then the making of profiles could be 
brought to very great accuracy. To determine whether any 
such relations existed, and if they did exist what they were, 
we made the following measurements : 

PLYMOUTH ROCK MALES. 

No. 1. 
Height, from groun<l to top of comb, 25 inches ; back, from 
ground, 17 inches; keel, from ground, 7 inches; length of 
shank, 5 inclies ; length from front of breast to rear of fiuff, 12 
inches; saddle-hangers beyond rear of fluff, 2Hnches; from 
fluff to a drop-line from the extreme rear of the tail, 5 inches ; 
the top of the tail from th;j ground, 20 inches ; the eye from 
the tip of the beak, 2 inches; length of head and beak, across 
the eye, S^ inches ; front of breast, behind a drop-line from 
the tip of the beak to the ground, 1 inch ; eye, the bird stand- 
ing squarely, was exactly over the nail on tlie middle toe. 

No. 2. 
Height, from ground to top of comb, 24^ inches; back, from 



18 PillLOSOPHY OF JrDGIX(;, 

ground, 17 inches; keel, from ground, Oo incites; length of 
shank, 5 inches; length, from front of breast to rear of fluff, 
12J inches ; neck, across under wattles, 4 inches ; the eye, from 
the tip of the beak, 2 inches; length of head and beak, across 
the eye, SJ inches ; front of breast, behind a drop-line from the 
tip of the beak to the ground, 2 inch ; eye, the bird standing 
squarely, over the middle toe, near the point ; the legs together, 
a line from the back to the ground, along the line of the 
shanks, divided breast, and fluff exactly in the middle. 

No. 3. 
Height, from ground to +op of comb, 24 inches; back, from 
ground, 16 inches; keel, from ground, 65 inches; length of 
shank, 5 inches; length, from front of breast to rear of fluff, 
llf inches; saddle-hangers, beyond rear of fluff, 2 inches; 
from fluff to a droi>-line from the extreme rear of the tail, 42 
inches ; the eye, from the tip of tlie beak, 2 in(;hes; length of 
head and beak, across the eye, 3} inches; front of breast, be- 
hind a drojD-line from the tip of the beak to the ground, 1 inch. 

No. 4. 
Height, from ground to top of comb, 24 inches; back, from 
ground, 15 inches ; keel, from ground, 7 inches ; length of 
shank, 5| inches; length, from front of breast to rear of fluff, 
13^ inches ; saddle-hangers, beyond rear of fluff, 2 inches ; 
from fiuflF to a drop-line from the extreme rear of the tail, 5 
inches ; the eye, from the tip of the beak, 2 inches ; lengtli of 
head and beak, across the eye, 3^ inches; front of breast, be- 
hind a dropdine from the tip of the beak to the ground, 5 inch. 

No. 5. . 
Height, from ground to top of comb, 23 inches ; back, from 
ground, 15 inches; keel, from ground, 7 inches; length of 
shank, 5 inches ; length from front of breast to rear of fluff, 13 
inches; saddle-hangers, beyond rear of fluff, 2 inches ; from 
fluff to a drop-line from the extreme rear of the tail, 4^ inches; 
the eye, from the tip of the beak, If inches; length of head 



Peofilk. 



19 



and beak, across the eye, ?, inches ; front of bieast, behind a 
drop-line from the tip of the beak to to the ground, ^ inch. 

No. (). 
Height, from ground to top of comlj, 25 inches ; back, from 
ground, Ki inches; keel, from ground, 7f inches; length of 
shank, ol inches ; length, from front of breast to rear of fluff, 
12.] inches; saddle-hangers, beyond rear of fluff, 2^ inches; 
from fluff to a drop-line from the extreme rear of the tail, 4^ 
inches ; the eye, from the tip of the beak, 2 inches ; length of 
head and beak, across the eye, 3} inches; front of breast, be- 
hind a drop-line from the tip of the beak to the ground, h inch. 

The above were were all prime specimens, the last three 
being exceedingly well developed in breast and muscle. They 
were placed in an upright, alert, natural position in order to 
obtain measurements that would be of value. The better to 
compare these measurements, we have tabulated the speci- 
mens together, as follows: 



Specimens. 



Height, (in inches) . . . 
Back, from ground . . . 
Keel, from ground . . . 
Shank, length of ... . 
Body and fluff, length of 

Saddle-hangers 

Rear of tail 

Eye, from tip of beak . . 
Length of head and beak 
Front of breast behind beak 



1 



25 

17 

7 

5 
12 

2h 

5 

9 



24i 
17 

5 

12^ 



24 
16 

5 

llf 
2 

^ 
9 



04 



24 
15 

7 
5 J 

104 

2 

5 

2 







6 



23 
15 

7 

5 
13 

2 

1^ 



25 



71 



m 

^ 

2 

04 



20 Philosophy cf JiD(iiiNCJ. 

The average of the above six specimens is given in the fol- 
lowing table : 

Height 24.25 

Back It). 

Keel ().lKi 

Shank 5.17 

Body and fluff 12.50 

Saddle-hangers 2.15 

Rear of tail 4.70 

Eye, from tip of beak 1.00 

Length of head and beak ... .... ;].;3o 

Breast, behind beak 07 

This last table may be said to give pretty accurately the 
measurement of a really tirst-class Plymouth Rock. Made, as 
it is, from relialjle data procured from the actual measurement 
of high scoring specimens, its ilimensions and proportions are 
such, or nearly such as should appear in any profile drawing 
that can be said to be life-like, natural and typical of the 
variety. It is important to note, however, that, though in 
every instance the extreme i)oint of the breast fell behind a line 
dropping ])erpendicularly from the point of the beak to the 
ground, from a half inch to an inch, in si)e(nmens remarkable 
for the fullness of the development of their breasts, the speci- 
mens appear to have their breasts curve out beyond the point 
they actually reach; and to give the specimens the full benefit 
of this appearance, we have have, in our profile drawings^ 
represented the breasts in their convex curves to reach a line 
falling perpendicularly from the tip of the beak to the ground. 
Such latitude of drawing is admissible, for it represents the 
appearance to the eye and gives the specimen the flill benefit 
of the greatest breast development, a point of excellence in 
breeding stock that deserves encouragement. 

Referring again to our table of measurements of Plymouth 
Rock males, we find that a specimen that measures 24] inches 



Peofilk. 21 

in height will measure 16 inches to the centre of his hacl^, or 
in other words that the height is to the height of the hack as 
o is to 2. This then is one ratio that is pretty nearly accurate. 
Again, we find that the specimen which measures 24^ inches 
in lieight measures 12J inches from the front of the breast to 
the rear of the fluff, or that the ratio between the height and 
the length is represented, nearly as 2 istol. Again, if we 
compare the height of the centre of the back with the length 
of the body we find that the average is 16 to 12^, or in round 
numbers as 4 is to 3. The keels average al)out 7 inches from 
the ground, and are about y^ of the heiglU of the back so that 
in a representation the depth of the body from the center of 
the back to the keel would be represented by 9, while the space 
between the keel and the ground would be represented by 7. 
The extreme end of the tail reaches about 4| inches beyond 
the fluff; and not, as is so frequently rei)resented, extending 
not more than half or three-fourths of the requisite distance. 
Between the shortest and longest beak, measured from tij) 
to the eye, there was a variance of half an inch, and the 
average varied from the shortest but a third of an inch, while 
the average varied from the longest but one-sixth of an inch. 
These averages and proportions are of the greatest value in 
arriving at the true proportions of a Plymouth Rock profile. 

For the same purpose, to determine what if any relations or 
proportions existed between the various parts of a fowl, we 
made the following measurements of Light Brahma males. 
The proi)ortion existing between the various parts will be 
found to be quite similar to those which exist between the 
same parts of Plymouth Rocks. 

LKIHT BRAHMA MALES. 

No. 1. 
Height, from ground to top of comb, 25 inches; back, from 
ground, 16} inches; keel, from ground, 7.] inches; length of 
shank, r^}, inches; length from front of breast to rear of fluff, 



'I'l Pjiilo«()phy of Judging. 

14[ inches; satldle-hangers beyond rear of fluff*, 2] inches; from 
tiuft' to a (h^op Une from the extreme rear of the tail 5 inches; 
the top of the tail from the ground, 21 inches; the eye from the 
tip of the beak, 2 inches; length of liead and beak, across the 
eye, 3^ inches; front of breast, behind a drop line from the tip 
of the beak to the ground, f inch. This specimen was 
lemarkable for development of breast and tail. 

No. 2. 

Height, fi'om ground to top of comb, 20 inches; back, from 
ground, 16 inches; keel, from ground, 8i inches; length of 
shank, 5^ inches; length from front of breast to rear of fluff", 13 
inches; saddle-hangers beyond rear of flufl", 2 inches; from fluff 
to a drop line from the extreme rear of the tail, 5 inches; the 
eye from the tip of the beak, 2 inches; length of head and 
beak, across the eye, 3] inches; front of breast behind a drop 
line from the tip of the beak to the ground, A inch; eye, the 
bird standing scpiarely, was over the tip of the middle toe. 
This specimen was exhibited at Boston, in 1887, and was the 
fullest breasted one in his class. 

No. 3. 
Height, from ground to top of comb, 27 inches ; back, from 
ground, 17 inches; keel, from ground, 8 inches; length of shank, 
5f inches; length from front of breast to rear of fluff, 14f 
inches; saddle-hangers beyond rear of fluff, 2^ inches; from 
fluff to a drop line from the extreme rear of the tail, 5 inches; 
the top of the tail from the ground, 22 inches; the eye, from 
the tip of the beak, 2\ inches; length of head and beak, across 
the eye, 3| inches; front of breast behind a drop line from the 
tip of the beak to the ground, 1 inch; eye, the bird standing 
squarely, was over the tip of the middle toe. 



Profile. 



OQ 



Tabulating these specimens, we have the following: 



Specoiens. 



Height, (in inches) .... 

Ba<;k, from ground 

Keel, from ground ..... 

Shank, length of 

Eody and fluff", length of 

Saddle-hangers 

Hear of tail 

Eye, from tip of beak . . . 
Length of head and beak . . 
Front of breast, behind beak 



1 


O 


25 


26 


16i 


16 


■ "ih 


8i 


H 


5A 


14} 


13 


2} 


2 


5 


o 


2 


2 


8i 


:>i 


3 
4 


1 



27 
18 

8 

of 
1-if 

2i 



-n- 



3f 



1 



The average of the above three specimens is given in the 
following table : 

Height 2(>. 

Back 1(5.75 

Keel 8. 

Shank 5.58 

Body and fluff 14. 

Saddle-hangers • • 2.17 

Rear of tail 5. 

Eye, from tip of beak 2.08 

Length of head and beak 3.50 

Breast, behind beak 75 

By uniting the two tables of average we have the following 
for ready reference : 

p. ROCK. L. BRAHMA. 

Height 24.25 2(). 

Back .■ 16. ..... 1().75 

Keel 6.96 8. 



24 I'UILO.SOI'HY OF JlTDCilXCi. 

iShaiik 5.17 t^.^S 

Body and fluff 12.50 14. 

Saddle-hangers 2.15 2.17 

Kear of tail 4.70 5. 

Eye, from tip of beak .... 1.00 2. OS 

Length of head and l)eak . . :).;>l> ;>.50 

Breast, behind 'honk ()7 75 

The most cursory examination of the above table shows the 
-great simihirity in the structure of the breeds, and espeeiall}' 
in tlie proportion of the parts The greater height of the 
Brahma is balanced by the greatei' length of the body and of 
the shank, and the greater distance of the keel from the 
ground. A nice calculation will show, however, slight but im- 
portant differences, especially in a slightly fuller development 
of l)reast and a slightly greater depth cf body in com])arison 
with the height in Plymouth Rocks, the details of which it is 
not here necessary to eutei' ui)on, as the averages speak foi- 
themselves, and every reader can make tlie necessary matiie- 
matical calculations. Our pur})ose has been to show one of 
the means of arriving at coi'rect illustrations of i)rofile. and one 
which we liave followed in making our life-like outlines. 

But the profiles ought not only to be accurate but they ought 
to exhibit in every detail the highest degree of perfection pro- 
duced by nature. It is not sufticient to give a portrait of a 95 
point bird, for the profiles ouglit to exhibit a bird tiiat can 
score 100 points. How are we to obtain this i)erfection, and 
at the same time not de})art from nature ? AVere we to take a 
stand at a horse fair and liave one thousand Percheron horses 
pass in review before us, would it not be strange if in that 
number there was not one, which, l)y his superb carriage, well 
knit liml>s, beautiful proportions, and well developed muscles, 
would prove more attractive than all the others? Would not 
such a horse when accurately portrayed, make a profile sufli- 
ciently good to judge the other nine hundred and ninety nine 
by ? And if upon close inspection, we discovei'ed that in one 



Pkofilk. 25 

or two minor sections— if there 1>e such a thing as minor sec- 
tions—he was interior to some of those present, and we added 
to his portrait the perfections which he hicked, would not such 
a portrait make a protiie sutiiciently severe to judge not only 
the one thousand, but ten thousand or a hundred thousand 
Percheron horses by ? Were we to make profiles by which to 
judge Percheron horses would we not do this very thing ; go to 
nature, study the Percheron horse as it is, and from the devel- 
opments as we found them make (Uir profiles? Or take another 
example. If we were to make a profile by which to judge all 
oak leaves, would we not make a study of oak leaves as they 
are produced, and from tliis study, selecting one excellence 
here and another there and coml)ining them into one whole 
thus make a profile i)y which all oak leaves could be judged ? 
And ought we not to do the same thing in making profiles of 
fowls? Ought we not to study them? .lust as we studied 
the Percheron horse rather than the works written al)out them 
by horsemen, just as we studied the oak heaves rather than 
treatises on botany, so we ought to study f(^wls rathei- than 
books about them in order to make profiles by which the fowls 
can be judged. And as in the case of the horses and the leaves 
we took what we found, not what our imaginaticuis might have 
created, as we selected excellences, but only such as nature 
developed, so in making our profiles of fowls, we found the 
best breast nature made, the best head, the best neck, the best 
back, the l)est tail, the best body and the best leg, and com- 
bined them into one whole to stand as the symbol of perfection 
in profile. We select and we combine the best that nature 
produces, but we do not outrage nature by seeking what we 
might vainly desire her to produce. Our combination may be 
more perfect than nature herself produces, but every element 
in it we have taken from nature and are therefore justified 
in using. To such a profile it is possible foi a small percentage 
of our fowls to approximate; they seldom and probal)ly never 
can fully reach it; beyond it it is impossible for them to go. 



26 PiiiLoyoriiY of Juikjing. 

But as some can reach it in one part, and some in another, 
they taken collectively may equal it, though singly each will 
fall short of it. Such a profile gives a perfect measure, and a 
just and reasonable one, to apply to the fowls themselves in 
arriving at a just estimate of their value. 

What use, then, ought we to make of profile in judging 
fowls? We offer it as a measure of value. Just as the mer- 
chant uses his yard-stick to enable him to give you your 
complement of cloth, just as the farmer uses his bushel-basket 
to ascertain the quantity of potatoes he is selling, just so is 
profile used as a means of ascertaining the correct shape and 
proportions of the fowls whidi are judged l)y it. And as the 
merchant doesn't deduct part of the cloth because he measures 
it with a yard-stick, and the farmer doesn't withhold part of 
the potatoes because he measures them in his basket, so no 
part of the score of a fowl ought to l)e withheld because it is 
measured by profile. Used in this way, as a measure, a guide, a 
help, and, if the breeder desires, as an ideal to breed to, profile 
outlines, made as we have described, so that they are "typical 
representative outlines of the l)reed," become of the greatest 
possible value. Incorrectlv made and incorrectly used, they 
are simply a delusion and a snare. 

NOTE. 

In carrying out the principles advocated in this chapter, in 
order to make the profiles typical and life-like and yet ideally 
correct, Mr. Felch has made a special study of the following 
birds: The Partridge and White Cochins of George W. Mitch- 
ell ; the White Leghorn cock and hen of Knapp Bros.; the 
Langshan cockerel and pullet of E. P. Kirby ; the sweepstake 
l)en of Minorcas of Willard Knapp ; all first and special prize 
winners at Buffalo's immense exhibition ; the Crystal Palace 
Langshan winners of J. P. Pope; the first prize But! Cochin 
cockerel and pullet at Newburg, N. Y., belonging to W. F. M. 
Smith; the Dark Brahmas of R. B. S, Hart, winners of the 



Profile, 



27 



first prizes at Providence, K. I. ; A. F. S. Lyon's AVhite AVyan- 
dotte cockerel, Storm King, and his mates, winners of first 
prizes at Meriden and elsewhere ; also, the grand Plymouth 
Rocks of A. A. Anderson, of Boone, Iowa. As none of these 
birds score less than 941 points, and some as high as 97^ 
points, bnt a trifling change in their profiles is needed to 
produce the profile of an absolutely i)erfect bird. And as 
the change is so slight the i)rofiles, though not intended as 
portraits, will serve to indicate fairly well the characteristics 
of these excellent birds. Our illustrations are, therefore, 
ideal, but an ideal founded upon nature, not the mere fruit 
of free imagination, and, as such, we believe them thoroughly 
adapted to the use of judging. 




i!l'!llllllllllll]llllllllWI«WII«MimP«lilfflH(lt(<id(lll|lll!!!l!ifflIilli 



Chapthk III. 



SYM^FETKY 



^N the previous chapter we pointed out what symmetry, con- 
-*J sidered in and of itself, is; that it is i-eally a resuhant of the 
union of the various parts of the fowl, a product of form. 
Perfection of parts, fitly joined, make perfection of symmetry. 
One has said that "symmetry is to fowls what varnish is to 
furniture— it puts the polish on," but it would have been more 
correct to have said that "symmetry is to fowls what the polish 
is to furniture— it is the result of the varnish which has been 

put on." 

In this chapter we consider Symmetry as a section in the 
Scale of Points in the Standard. 

Much confusion has arisen from these two ideas of symme- 
try, and for a portion of this confusion the American Poultry 
Association and the American Standard of Excellence are respon- 
sible. The first division for Standard use and for Score Cards 
was a four fold one, the sections being Symmetry, Color, Size 
and Condition. Under Symmetry the whole of form was con- 
sidered ; under Color, all relating to color ; und^r Size the appar- 
ent size of the specimen ; and un<ler Condition its condition at 
the time of exhibition. The scale then figured but fifteen 
points, and when it was raised to one hundred points, an in- 
consistency was introduced. Symmetry, which had been synon- 
omous with form, and was, indeed, the whole of form, was 
subdivided, but instead of using, as logically and historically 



30 Philosophy <»f Ji ixtIng. 

it ought to have been used, the whole of symmetry in the sub- 
diAisions of form, a portion was retained as the result of form. 
The earhest was the most consistent score care, for it dealt 
with qualities, and conditions, not the result of qualities. It 
had form, color, size and condition in a mass, and really those 
ai'e the only tangible qualities we can find in our fowls. When 
the subdivision was made those four fundamental qualities 
ought to have been all that could have been found in the score 
card or the Scale of Points. But the Association. consciou.sly or 
uncon.sciously, did something beside subdividing, they intro- 
duced an entirely new factor, so that in the Scale of Points are 
now to be found five fundamentals instead of four. Form ; the 
Result or Product of Form, called Symmetry-: Color: Size: 
and Condition. The Result or Product of Form is an inter- 
loper ; it does not belong in a scale which attempts to deal only 
with the tangible qualities to be found in a fowl. Because it 
was once used as synonomous with a tangible quality, it has 
been retained and become synonomous with an intangible 
quality, and between its former and its latter definition it has 
been a fertile producer of dissension, an unjust element in 
scoring, a means of concealing ignorance or fraud, and alto- 
gether an unmitigated nuisance. These may seem like strong 
words, but those who are familiarly acquainted with the exhi- 
bition room will bear witness that they are true. 

The objections to Symmetry- as a section in the Scale of Points 
as a cutting power in the Standard, are, first of all, that it is 
impossible to define in words with sufficient accuracy for prac- 
tical use an indefinite result of the combination of qualities. 
Some sort of a definition can be made — we have attempted it — 
but it is not and can not be made sufiBciently accurate, fixed 
and inflexible to afford a satisfactory result in scoring. 

Again, its flexibility, its difiicult\- of close fixed definition or 
description, renders it an easy cover for the ignorance of one 
and the fraud of another judge. Upon the tangible qualities 
the judge can be held to account for any marked defjarture 



Symmetry. 31 

from the definition or description, but upon this intangible 
s<^'mething. as unsubstantial as the fabric of a dream, he can 
not be held to an account. His cut may be one point. — we 
have heard it said that some judges mark their cards one out 
in symmetry before leaving the Secretary's office, to save time. 
— c»r it may be more or less, and his only answer is that he 
deems it a just cut. In a close score he can give, if so dispensed. 
the advantage to the inferior fowl and defraud the better bird 
«»f the deserved prize. 

Again, it renders the score card unintelligible to the exhib- 
itor. He can understand a cut for form or color, for weight or 
condition, but for Symmetry he can not, and as he puzzles over 
his score card he is none the wiser for the out on Symmetry. 

And still again, as usually applied. SymmetrA* results in a 
double cut for the same defect, and the score of the fowl is 
thus actually lowered beyond what it ought to l>e by the full 
amount of the loss on symmetry. To be sure, there are two 
ways of obviating this difficulty : one by confining the cut for 
defect in form, either to the place where it is lc»cated or to 
Symmetry alone, and the other by making a nice mathematical 
calculation of the percentage that the total amounts for form 
bear to the whole number of points cut for form, and then 
deducting this percentage from the eight or ten points allowed 
for Symmetry. But both of these methods are such as to 
render the score unintelligible or to consume so much time as 
to prohibit their use. As a matter of fact they are seldom 
used, and never satisfactorilv. and they make two bites at the 
cherry instead of taking it at one. The general, as the most 
popular method, is to cut at once for Symmetry even though it 
results in an unjust double cut. 

So long as Symmetry remains in the Scale of Points, however 
much injustice it may work and however severely it may be 
condemned, it must be considered by the judge in scoring the 
fowl. 

In applying this section, in the absence of a profile, the 



32 PiiiLosoi'iiY OF Jri)(;iN(;. 

judge should force tlie specimen into a natural and typical 
position for the breed, and then compare the fowl, with the 
ideal profile he has in his mind of a perfect specimen of the 
breed, taking into consideration also the views presented from 
different positions so as to include the harmony of all the 
parts taken as a whole. His ideal has supplanted the profile, 
as well as the picture of the fowl from diflerent positions. 
AVith this mental picture he compares the fowl, noting care- 
fully the points of difference between the two. It will seldom 
or never happen that the fowl and the mental picture will 
coincide in all particulars. There will doubtless be in eacli 
case many agreements and some differences. The neck may 
be less arched, the breast have less fulness, the back follow 
different lines, the tail have a different carriage, or some other 
divergence from the lines of the mental picture be present. 
The differences are to be collected and the sum total of them 
to be calculated as a percentage of difference from the sup- 
posed perfect mental picture. AVhatever this percentage may 
be, it should be deducted from the whole numV)er of points 
allotted to Symmetry in the Scale of Points. In doing this the 
judge will often l)e surprised to find the frequency with which 
1 is maiked on the "out" column against Symmetry. As 8 
points is the value given to Syuimetry in nearly all the Scales, 
and as very few birds are exhibited which are not reasonably 
good in Symmetry, the cut of 1 point, being a cut of 122 pt'r 
cent., will be found just in nineteen out of twenty cases. Even 
when tlie birds are quite different in their defects, as when 
one is too long in back, another too short in leg, and another 
with faulty carriage of the tail, the effect on Symmetry may be 
the same and all deserve the same cut. As few people under- 
stand this matter, and as they see the birds differing in form 
but suffering the same cut, it seems to them a matter of sur- 
prise, and judges are frequently made the ol)ject of cheap 
witticisms and pointless jokes, due to the ignorance of the 
would-be facetious persons. 



Symmetry. 33 

There may be departure from the mental picture which 
ought not to be cut by the judge. The mental picture should 
not be considered alone, but should )je construed with the 
authoritative written descri[)tion of the breed, and any charac- 
teristic which is specially valuable in a l)reeding fowl, and 
which is indicated in the written description, even though it 
produces a departure from the mental picture, should pass un- 
cut. For example, such a fulness of breast and roundness of 
quarters as would surpass the mental picture, being a quality 
that enhances the value of the bird in the breeder's yard, as 
the fowls nearly always fail in that direction, and also being a 
characteristic which would comply with the description, 
"round, full and carried well forward," is a departure from the 
mental picture that deserves to pass uncut. Or, again, if the 
neck of a specimen is more arched than in the mental picture 
of the breed, and the written description calls for a "well 
arched" neck, this would be an over-development which in 
the yard of the breeder would be productive of excellent 
results and would add to the value of the specimen, and 
because of these facts ought not to be cut. But where the 
over-development can not be harmonized with the written 
description, where it is something that breeders desire to avoid 
and its i)resence detracts from the value of the bird as a stock 
bird, there the over-development should be cut as a defect, the 
amount of the cut, of course, proportioned to the degree of this 
excess. For example, the back of the males in Brahmas and 
the American varieties — with the exception of the Javas — 
must have a concave sweep to the saddle ; the back, wdth the 
cape from the neck to the saddle, must have a gentle down- 
ward slope ; the hackle, nearly or quite covering the cape, 
allows this downward slope to show just enough to give an 
idea of length to the back ; and while an under-development 
wdiich does not permit the specimen to come up to the lines of 
the mental picture is a defect, an over-development, which 
makes the line of the saddle straight or destroys the concave 

3 



o4 PiriLOSOPHY OF Jui)(.IN(i. 

sweep of the back, because it changes the characteristics of the 
breed and cannot be harmonized with the written description, 
is a still greatei' defect and deserves a severer cut. In the 
Cochins, nature demands a well developed cushion and a con- 
vex sweep to the saddle, and in the females the abundant 
plumage carries this convex sweep almost to the points of the 
hackle. The words in the description of the male Cochin, "a 
gentle convex curve to the tail," convey the same meaning, 
that of an oval or rounded back and saddle. For years breed- 
ers have labored to secure this development, and the breed has 
responded to their efforts. If a Cochin should exceed the con- 
vex lines of the back and saddle in the mental picture, this 
excess is not to be reckoned a defect, for it complies with the 
written description, and corresponds with the natural charac- 
teristics of the breed, it is a quality that is desired by the 
fancier and desiral)le to the l)reeder. 

In other cases, over-development may be a defect, and yet 
such a defect as to demand a light cut in comparison with its 
departure from the mental picture. For example, in Plymouth 
Rocks and Brahmas we desire the tail to be well spread at the 
base, but all have seen specimens in which the tail was so 
spread as to be a fault. While such an over-development 
could scarcely be passed without some cut, yet as this is a 
development in the right direction and as such a bird might 
prove specially valuable in the breeding pen in correcting the 
more serious defects of whip-tailed, narrow-saddled specimens, 
it will be safe to err, if this be an error, on the side of too light 
rather than too heavy a cut. 

These are nice points, and cannot well be tabulated in a 
series of values for each defect. The proper cut for each must 
be determined by the judge in each case, giving a due consid- 
eration to the effect upon the particular specimen under 
examination. He is the best judge who can so regulate these 
cuts as to do justice both to the appearance of the fowl and to 
his value as a stock bird, who can so cut for defects as to pun- 



Symmetry. 



85 



ish ail departurc\s from the perfect development of the bird 
and at the same time encourage the true characteristics of the 
breed, even in those superlati\e efibrts of nature from which 
excessive development arises. 

While we have thus discussed the application of Symmetry 
as it will probably be applied so long as it remains a section in 
the Scale of Points in the Standard, yet, as we believe at no 
very distant period the anomaly of cutting the measure as well 
as the thing measured will be removed from the Standard, we 
shall strive to show a more excellent way of ascertaining the 
value of svmmetrical fowls. 



Chapxkr IV. 



THE DECIMAL SCALE. 

GTHE Arabic system ol' notation, the system which has been 
'^ famihar to us all from our earliest initiation into the mys- 
teries of numbers, proceeds by tens. The American system of 
moneys is based upon a series of tens. When the French 
savants would make a truly scientific sj'stem of measurements, 
they fixed as their unit of length upon the metre, and upward 
and downward from that reckoned by a series of tens. This, 
the decimal system, is universally recognized as the most con- 
venient ever devised. Easy of representation, easy of calcula- 
tion, it presents a means of ascertaining distance, quantity and 
value, that wdll never be surpassed. This same decimal sys- 
tem we apply to our scale for ascertaining the score of fowls. 
In order to avoid any appearance of infringement of the copy- 
right of the American Poultry Association upon its Standard, 
and because the principles of judging can be equally well illus- 
trated whatever value is given to any scale or the sections of a 
scale, and because we believe, for reasons soon to be given, 
that this is the best possible scale, we have used in this work 
a scale consisting of ten sections, e'ach section having assigned 
to it a uniform value of ten points, the whole amounting to 



38 Philosophy of Judging. 

one hundred points, and have called it, from the principles 
upon which it is made, 

THE DECIMAL SCALE. 

Weight and Condition 10 

Comb— Comb and Crest 10 

Head — including Earlobes,^Wattles and Beard . 10 

Neck 10 

Back 10 

Breast 10 

Body — including the Fluff' 10 

Wings 10 

Tail 10 

Legs and Feet — including Thighs, Shanks and 
Toes 10 

Total 100 

This Scale can be, and in its application should be, subdi- 
vided into form and color, and an equal subdivision gives us 
the following 

DECIMAL scale: 

Weight and Condition — Weight 5, Condition 5, . 10 

Comb — and Crest .... Form 5, Color 5, .10 

Head, with adjuncts, . • Form 5, Color 5, . 10 

Neck, Form 5, Color 5, .10 

Back, Form 5, Color 5,-10 

Breast, Form 5, Color 5, . 10 

Body, Form 5, Color 5, . 10 

Wings, Form 5, Color 5, . 10 

Tail, Form 5, Color 5, . 10 

Legs and Feet, Form 5, Color 5, . 10 

Total 50 ^ 50 100 

Under Form, is included of course the length, width, size, 
outline, in fact all that goes into the configuration of the fowl ; 



The Decimal Scale. 39 

under Color the ground color, the markings, and all that 
depen<ls upon the color or colors that are found in the speci- 
men. 

The advantages of the Decimal over other Scales are numer- 
ous. Among them, the first and most obvious is the ease with 
which it can be applied. Each section ])eing of equal value, 
and each subdivision being one-half of the whole section, it is 
not difhcult to remember the Hcale in its entirety. Where 
varying values are given to the sections of a Scale the task of 
remembering each would be great and with most men impos- 
sible. As the percentage system is, and wisely, used in 
making "cuts" in the score, the ease with which these cuts 
can be made with the Decimal Scale is a strong recommenda- 
tion. Ten per cent, of a section is one point; ten per cent of a 
subdivision of a section is one-half point. But if we have 4, 6, 
<S, 10, 12, and the like for values of sections, and we cut ten 
per cent, we get such fractions as 5, |, 1, IJ, and so on. Other 
percentages are calculated with like ease with the Decimal 
Scale and with much greater dithculty with Scales in which 
the sections vary in value. 

Again, we have one Scale for all the breeds instead of a special 
Scale for each breed or class. The result of this is that all 
breeds enter the exhibition upon equal terms and no one breed 
is handicapped by a specially unfavorable Scale. With Scales, 
such as have been in vogue, made to fit the peculiarities of a 
given breed, and a large number of points given to some one 
or two sections in which these breeds are particularly excel- 
lent, in all competitions for sweepstake prizes, the first i)rize is 
mortgaged before hand to some one, or at least to one of some 
two or three breeds, and all of the others are practically out of 
the race. 

This Scale, by giving equal value to each section, encourages 
the breeding of the best "all round" fowl, instead of the 
developeinent of some single section at the expense of all the 
others. When a very large number of points is given to a 



40 Philosophy of Judging. 

single feature, breeders direct all their efforts to the production 
of that feature, and succeed, perhaps, in its remarkable de- 
velopment at the ruin of the fowl as a whole. If 20 or 25 
points were given to the face of a White-faced Black Spanish, 
or to the comb of a Leghorn, or to the crest of a Polish, it 
would not be many years before almost all the value a White- 
faced Black Spanish [)OSsessed would be an enormous facial 
development, or a Leghorn a splendid comb, or a rolish a 
remarkable crest. The other characteristics would be lost 
sight of, the })reed l)e ruined for all ])urposes but to show its 
face, its comb or its crest, and the value of such fowls w^ould 
rapidly sink below quotation. Tliese are not merel}^ imaginary 
results. The experiment was tried on the White-faced Black 
Spanish, and had not the Scale been reformed the breed would 
have been utterly ruined. As it was, it suffered severely and 
has yet not fully recovered from the disastrous efTectts of the 
experiment. 

The Decimal Scale is founded on the principle that perfec- 
tion is perfection. No fowl is perfect that is not perfect in all 
its })arts. Perfection of all the parts is perfection of the 
whole ; imperfection of any single part is imperfection of the 
wdiole. Tile aim of the breeder is to produce a perf(^ct fowl. 
If he fails in a single point, he fails altogether of attaining his 
full purpose. So far as the accomplishment of his purpose is 
concerned, one section is of as much importance as another 
section. In estimating his success or failure it be(;omes neces- 
sary, therefore, to assign an equal value to each section. The 
Decimal Scale recognizes these facts, and gives expression to 
them. It is founded upon ttiis great underlying purpose of the 
breeder. It, and it alone, of all the Scales proposed for the 
measurement of the values of fowls, fully recognizes this 
princi})le. 

Because the Decimal Scale is so easy of aj^plication, because 
it applies uniformly to all breeds and enables them to compete 
upon an equality, because it encourages the breeding of the 



The Decimal Scale. 41 

best fowls rather than the development of a single feature at 
the expense of all the others, because it is founded upon 
scientific principles and recognizes the great purpose of the 
breeder, because, in a word, it is the only Scale that will do 
exact justice to all l)reeds and all breeders, we believe that it 
will eventually be adopted by the American Poultry Associa- 
tion and will be applied to the judging of all varieties of fowls. 

In this Scale we have no place for Symmetry or Profile as a 
section. We do not believe in "cutting" our measure when 
we "cut" the fowl. But we shall make use of the profile 
outlines in ascertaining the true meaning of the written 
descriptions; we shall use them, in the only possible legiti- 
mate way, as an illustrated definition of the words used in 
describing the various i)arts or sections of the fowl ; and we 
shall, therefore, in the application of our Scale avoid all double 
cuts and prevent all injustice in the scores of fowls. Where 
the defect is located there it will l)e punished. If the breast is 
faulty the "out" will be found against "Breast" in the score- 
card ; if the back is misshapen it will be suthcient to look at 
"Back" in the score-card. This Scale will, therefore, render 
all score-cards lucid and intelligible. In it is no room for the 
flexibility that Symmetry as a section possesses, no place for 
ignorance to seek a cover and for fraud to hide its head. With 
this Scale the judge must know his duty and must do it, and 
this is as it should be. All honest poultry judges desire to be 
held to the strict performance of their duty, and if there are 
any disiionest judges you will find them hostile to the Decimal 
Scale. We do not mean that all who oppose the Decimal Scale 
are dishonest, but we do mean that all dishonest judges will 
be likely to oppose the Decimal Scale. There may be honest 
men in the opposition ; all the dishonest will certainly l)e 
found there ; for this Scale means honest, fair, square, just 
judging, and that is what dishonest men do not like. 

Although the Decimal Scale departs in form from the Scales 
used in the Standard, both in giving an equal number of 



42 Philosophy of Judging. 

points to all the sections and in eliminating the objectionable 
section — Symmetry, yet we boldly claim that it is in strict 
harmony with the plain intent of the makers of the Standard 
and of the Standard itself. All Scales are but a means to an 
end. The end proposed by the Standard is to ascertain the 
true value of each specimen upon a perfect value of one 
hundred. Double cuts were never intended to be made. The 
true end is to ascertain, by deducting the value of all ajiparent 
defects, the real value of the specimens scored. A Scale 
which leads to a double deduction for any defect is one that 
fails to accomplish the purpose of the Standard.. If, then, the 
Decimal Scale avoids all double cuts and enables the judge to 
ascertain the exact score of a fowl, and other Scales lead to 
double cuts and thus produce a fictitious score, it is perfectly 
obvious that the Decimal Scale is the only one which is in 
harmony with the Standard. We assume that this position is 
correct, and to illustrate its correctness we give a score of a 
Light Brahma cockerel by the use of a Scale with Symmetry 
as a section, and by use of the Decimal Scale, 
Score by Scale with Symmetry as a section : 

Symmetry 2 

Condition and weight 

Head 

Comb, side view all right Init divisions crooked 2 

Wattles and earlobes 

Neck, too straight, color good 1 

Back, a trifle roached, 1 ; color, I 1^^ 

Breast, too flat 1 

Body and fluff 

Wings, bad color in flights I2 

Tail, shape good but white in sickles 1 

Legs and toes, middle toe bare 1 

Total outs 11 

Score 89 



The Decimal Scale. 



43 



In this specimen we have a neck faulty 25 per cent.; back, 2o 
per cent.; breast, 20 per cent.; and as all these are of a nature 
to aftect the profile decidedly and markedly, we consider that 
25 per cent, on Symmetry is a just cut. 

The same bird scored by the Decimal Scale gives the follow- 
ing result : 

Weight and condition 

Comb "- 

Head with adjuncts 

Neck, (25 percent, shape, 5) U 

Back, color, h\ shape, 25 per cent, l} .... If 

Breast, 20 per cent, shape 1 

Body 

Wings, bad color ^2 

Taih' ^ 

Legs and toes 

Total outs 10 

Score ^^0 

Will any one, can any one, reasonably, claim that these 
sections are not cut all that justice demands for the defects 
mentioned? If, then, these defects are cut all that they 
deserve, does not the fact that, under the old Scale, with Sym- 
metry as a section, the bird can score but 89 points, and under 
the Decimal Scale, with ^Symmetry left out, the bird scores 90 
points, does not, we say, this fact prove that the bird has been 
robbed of one point in its score to which it was justly entitled? 
And does not this fact further prove what we have long main- 
tained, that Symmetry as a result claims honest admiration, 
but Symmetry as a cutting power in the Standard is a thief and 
a robber? Does not this fact prove that former Scales are 
defective, and that for a perfect Scale, a just measure of the 
value of a bird, we must have recourse to the Decimal Scale ? 
Does not this fact justify us in adopting in our work, especially 



44 Philosophy of Judging. 

as in it we are dealing with tlie underlying principles of judg- 
ing, the Scale which will give the fairest results? Does not this 
fact, especially when taken into consideration with the other 
important facts that the Decimal Scale can present in its behalf 
and which we have imperfectly called attention to, prove that 
the Scale we advocate is the one that ought to be used in the 
Standard, and that, as the people become more familiar with 
the inequality of the working of other Scales, in time, and 
perhaps not a very long time, will be universally adopted ? 
We leave the answer of these questions to the candid reader, 
feeling confident that the facts will lead him to conclusions in 
harmony with those that we entertain. 




Chapter V. 



APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES TO THE SCORING OF THE 
DIFFERENT BREEDS. 



ASIATICS. 

(JIn this, and in subsequent chapters, we shall consider the 
^ application of principles to the scoring of the different 
breeds of fowls. It will be unnecessary to consider all the 
breeds in the Standard, but enough will be considered to 
discuss and illustrate the scoring of all. In the former chap- 
ters we treated of the instruments to be used; in this we 
discuss the use of those instruments. 

AVe have, as instruments, the written description of the fowl 
in the Standard; the profile plates, as a pictorial definition of 
the written description ; and the Decimal Scale by which we 
estimate the value of each section. 

A good mechanic must not only have good tools, but he 
must know how to use them ; a good poultry judge must not 
only have a good Standard, but he must be familiar with its 
contents; a correct profile, but he should understand the 
anatomy and development of the different varieties of fowls; 
a perfect scale, but he must understand its use. He should 
have a good eye for figure and accurate knowledge of color. 
Above all, he should have a good stock of common-sense— a 
quality that is, it must be confessed, none too common. Any 
one thus furnished, by the dilligent exercise of the faculties 
he possesses, can become a good poultry judge. 



4t) Pl[II>()SOPIlY OF JrJXilNd. 

In all editions of the Standard of Excellence, the Asiatics 
have held the first place; for patriotic reasons the American 
class occupies that place in the Standard of Perfection. We 
select the Asiatics to first treat of, because in that class we 
have a great variety of types of form and color with which to 
deal. In form there are no less than four distinct types, in 
color still more. The Light Brahma presents one type, the 
Dark Brahma — despite the vote of the thirteenth meeting of 
the American Poultry Association — another; the Cochins a 
third, and the Langshan a fourth. 

While we are aware of the force of the argument that it is 
unscientific to have two varieties of Bratimas with two types 
of form ; while we are ready to admit that all varieties of a 
breed siiould be identical in form and differ only in color and 
markings; M'hile we agree with breeders like Mr. H. A. Mans- 
field that the first mistake was in calling the Dark Brahmas 
Bi'ahmas at all, yet in our appeal to nature and in our dealing 
with facts, we are obliged to confess that there is a difference 
in the typical shape of the Light and Dark Brahma, and that 
unless this is recognized, injustice will be done. As the Light 
Brahma was the original breed, and as its shape has become 
fixed by long years of breeding, no Light Brahma breeder 
would consent to have his fowls brought to the Dark Brahma 
type. And as the Dark Brahma in its origin possesses a 
portion of Cochin blood, as its shape is intermediate V)etween 
the Light Brahmas and the Cochins, and as this shape has 
become fixed by years of painstaking breeding by some of the 
most eminent breeders in the land, no Dark Brahma breeder 
will consent to adopt for his variety the type of the Light 
Brahma. Here is a case where we believe the Standard 
violates nature, and as nature is the supreme power, the 
Standard will have to yield to its inexorable requirements. 
What are the differences in form between the Light and Dark 
Brahma? A superficial view gives a general resemblance, 
sufficient to deceive the novice. He sees the combs, the necks, 



AlMMJCATION OF PkIXCIPLES. 47 

the backs, the tails ; in fact all the sections of the two breeds, 
identical in shape. In fact he finds them so described in the 
Standard of Perfection, and in the Standard of Excellence he 
can find Vnit a single difference indicated, and that in one 
clause relating to the cushion of the hen. But a more careful 
and critical examination traces small but decided differences, 
which in the aggregati^ amount to a quite different type. Let 
us examine the sections in detail and see the resemblances 
and differences. 

In the head, the comb, the beak, the eye, the wattles and 
the ear-lobes, the form is or ought to be, identical in both 
breeds, the differences being only those of color. 

In the necks we find a change. The neck of a Dark Brahma 
is shorter than that of a Light, the plumage is longer, fuller, 
the fibre more curled, so that the curve is sharper and more 
marked. 

The backs furnish another difierence. The back of the 
Dark Brahma is shorter than that of the Light, the saddle and 
cushion are more fully developed, the plumage is more 
aVjundant and more curled. The males have a higher and 
broader saddle, and longer saddle feathers ; the females have a 
more ample cushion and the outline of the back is not, save 
in exceptional cases, a clean cut, pronounced concave line. In 
a word, the Dark Brahma back approaches more nearly that 
of the Cochin than it does that of the Light Brahma. 

The breasts also difter. That of the Dark Brahma is broad 
in front, with prominent quarters, causing it to have a flatter 
and deeper apjiearance, while that of the Light has a fuller 
and more pronounced forward sweep. This difference is 
more marked in the males than in the females, and if the 
examination of the breasts of females was confined to that one 
section alone, and the difference in cushion and fluff was 
unnoted at the time, there would be little injustice in describ- 
ing their breasts as identical in shape. 

Body and fluff' also give a further difference. The bodv of 



48 PuiLosoiMiY OF .Jri)(;ix(i. 

the Dark Bralinui, Ijecause the keel bone is eariied lower, is 
less rounded at the sides. The tlutf' is longer and mere abund- 
ant, ereating a greater fullness at the stern. 

The wings are essentially identical in form, but it is an error 
to describe them as small. They are above medium size, the 
bows very near the front line of the breast, so near that a 
square will not show one inch between them and the front of 
the breast, and they cover as large a portion of the sides of the 
birds as do the wings of Plymouth Rocks. 

The tails furnish still another difference in form. The male 
Dark Brahmas h'.ive larg.^r and longer tails than the Light 
Brahmas, and they are carried in a more upright manner; the 
sickles, lesser sickles, and coverts, while larger, are more roll- 
ing, have a siiarper curve, and resemble in general character 
those of Cochins rather than those of Light Brahmas. The 
females have tails more buried in the cushion than the Light 
Brahma females. 

The legs furnish one more point of difierence. The Dark 
Brahmas have a shorter leg than the Light, a greater profusion 
of hock feathers, the whole producing a different outline to the 
leg. 

If, then, we find the Dark Brahma with a shorter neck, fuller 
hackle, a shorter, back, more ample cushion or saddle, a fiatter 
breast, a less rounded deeper l)ody, a fuller fluff, a more up)- 
right, fuller and longer tail, and a shorter leg with fuller hock, 
if we find the plumage more abundaut and in texture more 
Cochin Hke, if we find as we do, that the Dark Brahma in 
form is intermediate between the Light Brahma and the 
Cochin, are we not justified in saying that it is a mistake to 
describe the two breeds in the Standard as identical in form ? 
And are we not also justified in representing the Dark Brahma 
with an outline of its own, and judging it by such an outline ? 
Is not such a course sensible and j^hilosophical ? A¥ould M'e 
not be guilty of a grave injustice to the breed were we to do 
otherwise ? We shall, therefore, for the purpose of this work, 



LUiHT BKAIIMyVN. 40 

oonsider the type of the Dark Brahma ditiereiit from that of 
the Light, and ^^liall assume without further proof at this time, 
that in the Asiatics there are four types of form, tliat of the 
Light Brahma, the Park Brahma, the Cochin and the 
Langshan. 

LIGHT BRAHMA8. 

We select for portraiture— in tliis ease departing from a 
purely ideal outline, but giving one that is so near an ideal as 
to be practically perfect— what we believe to be a fair compro- 
mise between the two original strains of Light Brahmas in the 
United States, the Autocrat and the Felch, or, as we think it 
should have been called, the Chamberlain or Imperial Strain. 
The former strain is descended from the well-known "Auto- 
crat," while the latter is descended from the birds that were 
found by Mr. Knox in New York harbor, on board the Indian 
Merchantman, in 1847. To portray, in a work like ours, the 
extreme type of any one strain, however great the temp- 
tation to do so, would be unfair. The rights of others must be 
consulted, and as thousands of men and women are breeding 
Light Brahmas made up from a union of these strains, we have 
endeavored to respect their rights. Our subject. Main Spring, 
No. 6565, sired by Tri Mountain, No. 6448, dam, Juanilla- 
Second, No. 6272, and sold for $75, winner at Columbus with 
score 93^ and 94 points,— is three-eighths Autocrat and five- 
eighths Felch blood, and we defy any beholder to deny that he 
is an impartial representative of the two strains. His actual 
measurements are as follows, his age being at the time ten 
months, and his weight twelve and one-half pounds : 

Height, 27 inches. 

Back, from ground, 17A 

Keel, from ground, 7| 

Shank, 5i " 

Body and Fluff, 14A " 

Saddle Hangers, 22 

4 



oil PlIII.osoiMIV «)K Jll)(il.\(i. 

Rear of Tail iVo in Fluff, . "> 

Height of Tail from oround, '21 

Eye from tip of Beak 2^ '^ 

Leiiii'th of Head and Beak, 8^ " 

Breast, V>ehiiKl drop line from Beak, . . ij •• 

A drr»p line from the eye strikes the rear of the nail on the 
middle toe of the foot on which the weight is resting. — See 
introduction by Artist. In this specimen we have one that is 
absolutely true to the general characteristics of the two strains, 
and is therefore " typical of the breed.'' In this profile and 
outline we have not only one that is true to life and harmon- 
izes the two strains, but one that is a model suthciently severe 
to judge the best five per cent, of the variety. A specimen 
that can till this outline can be passed as perfect in profile. In 
presenting such an outline as a fit representative of the largest 
breed of fowls, we liope to win the approbation of all who de- 
sire to see inaugurated a system of poultry illustration that is 
true to life, and that is a true teacher of the form and symme- 
try of fowls. To go beyond this would be to make an outline 
that would give false ideas, represent a fictitious rather than a 
real symmetry, and in the end prove a detriment to breed and 
breeder alike. 

Before dealing witli s])ecific varieties, it is necessary to re- 
mark that in Weight and Condition the application of the 
Scale is practi(;ably alike for all varieties that have Standard 
weights. The judge has only to ascertain tlie actual weight of 
the specimen, and deduct tlie two points per pound, or pro- 
portionately for fractions of a pound that the specimen falls 
short of the Standard weight required, provided, of course, 
that it does not reach the disqualifying weight, in which case 
it is excluded from competition. Under Condition, is consid- 
ered the health, the cleanliness, and the amount of flesh of the 
specimen. A specimen excessively fat or very poor and 
emaciated deserves a cut from .^ point to 2 points, according to 
the degree. A fowl in perfect flesh is one with full muscles, 



Light Brahmas. 



51 



in good heart, but neither very thin nor very fat — in fact, just 
about prime condition for breeding. For a weeping eye cut 
1 point; for distemper, far enough advanced to produce a 
fetid breath, 1 point; for chronic or decided roup banish them 




from the show pen ; for roughness of shanks from I point to 3 
points for scaly leg. For uncleanliness, from h to 2 points, 
though if this is due simply to the effects of confinement in 
the show pens it ought to pass uncut. 

As we have before remarked, and as our Scale shows, we 



52 Philosophy of Judgi>;g. 

make no cuts for symmetry as such, though we punish the 
specimen for all the defects there are in the various sections. In 
relation to symmetry we are in the position of the drummer, 
who on his first trip charged to his expense account a new suit 
of clothes, which the firm promptly disallowed ; but on his 
return from the second trip he presented an account free from 
such an item. "Ah!" said the senior partner of the firm, 
"this account is more like it. I don't see any charge for a new 
suit of clothes in it." "No," said the drummer," there is no 
charge for a suit of clothes in it, but they are there all the 
same." So in our cuts for defects of form, we have in reality 
punished the specimen for every departure from true symme- 
try, and placed the i)unishment where it belongs, in the sec- 
tions in whicli the defect is located. Our illustrations are 
used as a guide to an idea of true form, as a pictorial definition 
of the printed description of the various sections, as a yard 
stick to measure the specimens with. By means of these 
illustrations we can better determine the percentage of defects, 
and thus more easily and more accurately determine the 
amount of the "outs" of the specimen under consideration. 

Eeturning now to the Light Brahma, we consider the first 
section in tlie Scale. 

The Comb. — The comb of the Light Brahma is technically 
named a pea comb. It consists of three divisions, with 
depressions or channels running from front to rear, the middle 
division being the highest. It has not inaptly been described 
as resembling three single combs pressed together and united 
at the front and rear. In its perfection, each division i& 
straight, the middle having seven serrations, the sides each 
having five serrations, rests firmly upon the head, and the 
whole comb has a rocker shape, the upper surface following 
very nearly the curve of the crown of the head. Such a 
comb, being properly proportioned to the size of the bird (see 
illustration), would have to pass uncut. But such combs are 
rare, though the Light Brahma breeds very excellent combs. 



Light Braiimas. 53 

If the middle has grown so fleshy as to cause it to fold or 
become serpe ntine cut 1 point; if the comb is turned to one 
side in the rear, and thus changed the Standard outline in all 
three divisions, cut from l^ to 3 points, in proportion to the 
amount of defect; if the comb be too large, cut from i to IJ 
points. When the comb is large and loose and falls over from 
one side to the other, the bird should be disqualified, always, 
however, in this as in all disqualifications, giving the benefit 
of the doubt to any specimen under consideration. All pea- 
combed breeds will be subject to a like application of the 
Scale, except that in a new variety a judge might be excused 
for a little greater leniency in making cuts. 

The Head. — This section includes the liead, with beak, 
eye, wattles and ear-lobes. The head of all Brahmas, and 
especially of the Light Brahma, is large, with the skull broad 
and overhanging the eyes. This is such a characteristic point 
that it ought to be carefully preserved. Any departure from 
this, such as narrowness of skull or depression in front of the 
comb which destroys to any extent the perfect arch of the 
beak and head, deserves a cut from 5 to 1 point. The wattles 
and ear-lobes should be so develoj^ed as to have their lower 
edges on a level line with each other. A male without wattles 
should be deemed an unworthy specimen, and when exceed- 
ingly small should be cut 2 points, as such a development, or 
rather lack of development, is regarded as indicative of a want 
of vitality ; while large, heavy wattles are regarded as a sign 
of vigor and prepotency, and should, therefore, receive a less 
cut, say i to 1 point In the female the head is less heavy in 
proportion to the size, because of the smaller wattles, which 
cannot be said to be well developed. This smaller develop- 
ment of the wattles is compensated for by the full throat- 
almost a median wattle or dew-lap — which is a development 
of loose skin extending from the under part of the beak to the 
neck. and covered with minute feathers. This is a character- 
istic and much -prized feature. Even if over-developod so as 



54 



I'lIII.osol'HY OF Jl'I)(,ilX(;. 




to be somewhat gross in appear- 
ance, or if somewhat small in 
size we should pass it uncut, 
but if entirely wanting it should 
be cut a full point. We feel 
that the tendency towards pro- 
ducing Light Brahmas with 
small line heads, small wattles 
and exceedingly small combs, 
is a dangerous one, leading to 
a want of vigor in the breed, 
and we trust that both in illus- 
tration and in judging the true 
characteristics of the breed will 
be encouraged and promoted. 
Our illustrations, we trust, are 
in the right direction, and will 
aid in this good work. 

The Neck-.—li the neck is too 
long or too short, cut J point ; 
if the head is carried so far 
forward as to injure the arch 
of the neck, making the neck 
appear straight, cut 1 point ; 
when the head is in proper 
position, the eye being over the 
point of the middle toe, if the 
neck is arched more fully than 
is shown in the illustration, no 
cut should be made, for the ex- 
cess complies with the printed 
description and is a feature that 
is valued by the breeder, for 
the majority of fowls fail in 



Light Bkahmas. 



oo 




this direction. The main color 
of the Light Brahma is white, 
the embelHshments are black, 
consequently there is a con- 
tinual tendency towards a re- 
version to the predominating 
color. The quill end of the 
hackle featlier being white, 
when sliown separate it is 
robbed of half its ])eauty. A 
perfect feather may have its 
black centre or stripe stop near 
the i)oint of the feather or 
reach the ]>oint ]jy a single 
fibre. If the black in the stripe 
has a metallic lustre, and ex- 
tends up as far as it is ever 
exposed by the wind to the sun 
and air, and in other respects 
l)e Standard, it should be uncut. 
The under color may l)e black, 
gray or absolute white for one- 
half the length of the feather 
and slioul<l receive no cut. The 
higher the stripe extends un- 
broken by any other color, the 
more api)reciated it is, but if it 
extends two-fifths of the length 
of the feather from the tip up- 
wards, tlie requirement of the 
description should be regarded 
as complied with and the 
feather should pass uncut. The 
usual defects are a want of 



rxi 



I'liil.oSOl'HV OF JrDGlXG. 




lustre to the l)lack in prime 
specimens, and the loss of color 
in the poorer specimens. The 
want of hlack in the striping 
should he cut from h to So 
points; if the black centres 
fade from a rich metallic black, 
for two and one-half inches 
from the point, to a dirty gray 
or nearly white centre, cut 
from 2 to 3 points, according to 
the degree. The white in over- 
black specimens often becomes 
smutt}^ by a discoloration of the 
whole surface of the lacing or 
by a narrow smokj^ outside 
edge to the white lacing, both 
having a similar effect on the 
general appearance of the neck. 
AVhen the smuttiness is slight 
and as indicated in Fig. 2, it 
should pass uncut, even if the 
under-color above the cross- 
line of tlie same be entirely 
black ; but smutty lacing should 
be cut from ^ to 2 points, and 
when the neck is bhjick in all 
parts, including lacing, for a 
distance of two inches, or when 
the black of Fig. 1 widens and 
Creeps up the outer edge of the 
white lacing until the white 
lacing is obliterated for an inch 
at the point, the si)ecimen 



Lkuit Bra H.MAS. 57 

should be cut '2h points. A hackle feather, so long as to com- 
pletely hide the shoulder gives a taper appearance forward 
■and greater apparent posterior weight; such a feather is not 
«o desirable as one that reaches down on the shoulder and 
thus exposes the squareness of the shoulders and gives 
prominence to the breast quarters ; yet it is preferable to one 
too short, causing the neck to look .slim, and justly demanding 
a cut of from ^ to 1 point, while the long hackle would pass 
uncut, or at the most be cut not more than a half point. The 
necks of the females have a less fullness of hackle than the 
males, the feather becoming a black-webbed feather laced 
with white. When the centres are faded from black to a gray 
mixture, and from that to nearly white, they demand a cut of 
from 2 to 3 points. (See Fig. 3.) 

The Back.— The true Brahma back — that which is found in 
iowls but often misrepresented in pictures — is the one that 
should guide the juds:e in scoring. What is the true Brahma 
back? By the aid of the feathers growing out of the arm of 
the wing at the shoulder joint, the cape is formed, which pre- 
sents a flat table-like surface, which will be completely covered 
by the hackle, if correct in abundance, when the head and 
neck are forced back. From the cape down the shell-bone of 
the back to near the hip joints there is a downward slope. 
The saddle, from this point, rises in a concave sweep to the 
tail — more marked in the males than in the females. It is 
this downward slope that gives the lengthened appearance to 
the back and body of a Brahma when compared with a Cochin. 
The plumage lies closely and smoothly, almost like a marble 
surface, with no indication of individual feathers, due to the 
whalebone-like fibre of the feathers. The true Brahma back 
then consists of the fiat portion at the cape, the downward 
slope to the saddle, and the concave sweep to the tail. (See 
our outline.) If the back runs in a straight line from the 
hackle to the tail, making a nearly right angle witli the same, 
out from 2 to U points, as in degree of failure of the concave 



58 Philosophy of JrD(;iN(;. 

lines of the saddle. Such specimens are generally wantijig in 
saddle plumage, and present a narrowness in front of the tail 
which should be cut from .] to 1 point. In Exhibition 
Brahmas, however, the back is seldom cut more than from 
5 to 1 point, and the color from i to 1 point, so that 2 points 
cut for back do not often occur. Whenever the over-develop- 
ment of the saddle is such as to convert the concave into 
convex lines it should be cut from <] to 1 point, but when it 
does not reach that degree, and yet is fuller than our illustra- 
tion indicates, if it produces a wide back and is accompanied 
by a well spread tail, it should pass uncut, as these are points 
that all admirers of the breed greatly appreciate. The surface 
color in the back of the male should be white ; the under- 
color white, light bluish gray, or even slate, the latter being a 
very valuable indication of the merit of the bird as a breeder. 
By surface color we mean that portion of the wel) of the 
feather which is exposed to the action of the light and air 
when the feathers lie normally. By under-color is meant all 
the rest of the feather, including not only the fluffy part, but 
the covered portion of the web. For the fluffy portion we use 
the term under-flufT. The surface color if white, or the under- 
color if wliite, light bluish gray oi' slate, must be passed as 
perfect. If the slate shows through, shading the surface color 
into a gray or slaty hue, there should be made a cut of from 
2 to 1 point. If occasional ticks of black appear in the web 
of the saddle of males inside of two inches of the tail coverts, 
we would not cut at all, but if they were clearly over the shell- 
bone they must be cut; I point will generally be found a 
sufficient punishment. If positive black ticks extend across 
the back, disqualify. In females the surface color is Miiite ; 
the under-color white, or light bluish gray. Such would have 
to pass uncut, but any other color would have to be regarded 
as defective. 

The Standard dis(][ualiflcation for black in the wel) of the 
feathers has caused nuinv heart ])urninus throuiih tlie manner 



Lkiht Brahma8. 59 

in which it has been apphed. It has often been grossly niis- 
apphed, and birds have been (hsquaUlied that ouglit to have 
won, Tlie language, however, is clear. The black must be 
positive black in color, not a shading of gray or slate, as many 
have supposed. All that is not white is not black. If the 
black is positive, clear, metallic black, then it amounts to a 
disqualification, provided there be enough of such spots to 
warrant the judge in resorting to this summary measure of 
disposing of the foMl. When there are from six to ten feathers 
affected by these positive black spots — of the color of the 
stripe in the hackle of a first-class specimen — or when the 
spots become large a less number might be considered 
sufficient, the judge should disqualify, but not otherwise. 
Why? Because nature has demonstrated that if the flights 
in the wings of the males are to be black, and three-fifths of 
the flights in any reasonable number of the females, the 
under-color of the back will be dark, and the dark under-color 
causes these spots. If we are to have the best "all round" 
color for our flocks we must treat these spots more leniently 
than has been the custom with some in the past. But though 
they do not amount to a disqualification they still remain a 
defect in color, and the dark spots in the back of a female, 
even if of a dark slate color, should be cut from 2 to l^ points. 
The females seldom show much shading of yellow, but this is 
a common defect in males, and should be cut from 2 to 1.^ 
points, according to the depth of color it attains. 

The Breast. — Our illustration gives a side profile view, and a 
specimen which can fill such lines would be passed as perfect 
in the form of the breast. If a specimen should be found 
exceeding this fullness of outline, and introducing by such 
fullness no new characteristics, because such superlative efforts 
of nature are very desirable in the breeding pen, and because 
they do not contradict the written description of the Standard, 
such a specimen wM:)uld also pass uncut for form of breast. 
Indeed, between two specimens, otherwise equal, the one 



60 Philosophy of Judging. 

having the greatest development of breast would deserve to be 
placed first. Such specimens are to be highly prized, and 
generally prove sure winners. The faults in the form of the 
breast are a flatness and want of fullness, which are cut from 
2 to 2 points. Nineteen out of every twenty exhibition speci- 
mens fail to the extent of 20 per cent, in the full forward 
sweep of the breast, and, therefore, receive for this defect a 
cut of 1 point. As a full forward sweep or curve to the breast 
is invariably accomx)anied by perfect quarters, such a full front 
means a full score for form of breast. The color of the breast 
is seldom or never faulty. Never being exposed to the burn- 
ing rays of the sun, like the back, the surface color remains an 
immaculate white, free from all objectionable yellow tinge. 

The Body. — This section includes all in the rear of the front 
point of the keel-bone, so called, the second joint of the leg- 
in dressed poultry, and the fluff, and excludes, of course, the 
thigh proper and the wings. Under this section must be con- 
sidered all these parts in scoring the fowl. This is a section 
that seldom is cut in scoring. Specimens deemed worthy of 
exhibition almost never are faulty in this section. Not one 
per cent, of all the Light Brahmas that are exhibited are 
defective when this section is reached. When faulty at all, 
the defect will be found in too great a flatness of the sides and 
a narrowness of the fluff, which should be cut from \ to 1 
point. The plumage is almost invariably white, free from 
yellow tinge, reasonably clear, and therefore passes uncut. 

The TT^/nr/.s'.— ^This is a section that calls for the closest 
scrutiny. Few clearly understand tlie amount of surface 
covered by the wings of Brahmas. They are fully one-third 
larger, in proportion to the size of the bird, than those of the 
Cochins. The throat, wattles and wings are characteristic 
traits of the Brahma, the difference between which and the 
corresponding features of a Cochin is difficult to describe to a 
novice, but readily understood by an expert. Our illustration 



Light Braiimas. 61 

properly brings out these features. Note the wing and the 
space it covers. Heretofore they have been portrayed too 
small, the artists having followed the language of the Standard 
rather than the development of the fowls. In nature, the 
wings when folded, reach nearly the entire length of the body. 
The faults of form are usually in the twisting of the feathers 
and the folding of the wings. Twisted feathers in the pri- 
maries or secondaries should receive a cut of from 1 to 2 points. 
Imperfect folding of the wings should be cut from h to 1^ 
points, in proportion to the defect. The chief defects, how- 
ever, are those of color, rather than of form. In the wings of 
the male the primaries are to be black, or nearly so ; we 
should say that four-tifths black would be sufficient to answer 
the Standard requirements. It is very desirable that the black 
should be positive in its character, and that when white 
appears it should be clear white. The shoulder coverts or 
wing fronts are white mixed with black near the edge, and the 
wing coverts are white. For white in the primaries, and for 
too wide a white lacing on the upper edge of the secondaries 
a cut of from I to 3 points, in proportion to its departure from 
the required four-fifths black, should be made. For yellow 
tinge on the coverts cut from 1 point to lA points, the latter 
when the black shows through. In females lighter colored 
wings are admissible, and when, in the primaries and secon- 
daries, black predominates over the white, no cut should be 
niade ; but if the black becomes less than one-half then a cut 
of from 2 to 2 points should be made, according to the degree 
of the defect. Coal black flights in either sex can not be 
called a defect or be cut; indeed, while such flights might 
transgress the exact language of the" Standard description in 
some cases, as they are a most desirable feature and such as 
would be required in the Standard if they could often be 
attained, instead of being a defect they are a peculiar excel- 
lence and entitle the possessor to rank ahead of another 
specimen in all other resx)ects equal but having flight feathers 



62 PlIILOt^OPHY or JlTKilXCT. 

partially white. The secondaries are edged with white in the 
upper web and cannot be jndge<l teehnioally as described in 
the Standard. If the white edge be too wide it may be cut as 
a defect. 

The, Tail. — In the male we look for a full sickled tail, the 
first and second sickles extending beyond the main tail- 
feathers some three inches, the five smaller sickles or tail 
coverts growing shorter as they approach the body, yet their 
points reaching to the tip of the tail proper. These lesser 
sickles are not more curved than a scimiter. The lesser 
coverts extend u]">on the greater coverts to about two-thirds of 
their length. In a proper carriage of the tail, which should 
be tolerably upright, the top point of the tail would be on a 
level line drawn from it across the neck somewhat below the 
wattles. The tail i)roper is fairly well developed. If the tail 
be carried too high or too low, cut from .^ to 1 point, the latter 
cut being generally more than enough to punish any sj)ecimen 
for this defect. If the tail is not well si)read, but is close and 
pinched, it should be cut from 1 to \h points, this being a 
serious fault and contrary both to the Standard description 
and the natural development of the breed; while an over- 
expansion of the tail, being an error in the right direction, 
would be cut lightly if at all, h point probably being ample in 
almost any but a very exaggerated case. If the sickles are 
straight cut 1 point. The plumage of tlie Light Brahma being 
white, with an embellishment of black, as a rule the quill 
ends of every part of the plumage are white ; for this reason, 
the lower inch of the tail feathers next the skin should not be 
cut, even if thej^ are white or black. To dig down to the 
lower extremity of the feather, in search for white, and to cut 
for it wdien found, is an error, but sickles that are white so far 
up that the wind by lifting the coverlets might disclose it, are 
faulty, more faulty in a cockerel than in a cock, as age is apt 
to bring in more white. A cockerel having sickles showing 
wliite for two inches from the quill end should be cut 1 point ; 



Lkwit Bkah.mas. 6o 

if tlie white shows above the tail coverlets the cut should l)e 
from 1 to 1^, points. The sickles being the most beautiful, and 
therefore the most valuable part, of the tail, deserve to be 
cut with greater severity when defective. The lesser coverts 
are black, edged with white, the combination being one of 
great beauty, and if the black is lost and they become wliolly 
white — the coverlets remaining black — we cut 1 point. White 
extending up the main tail-feathers for more than an inch is a 
defect, and when showing much above that cut 1 point. If 
the main tail feathers are tipped with white, cut 1 point. In 
the females the tail should be fan-shaped, wide at the base, 
spreading out laterally ; in color the main feathers should be 
black, except the two upper or " deck " feathers which have a 
white edging. The tail coverlets, like the "deck" feathers, 
are black with an edging of white. The lesser coverts are 
wholly white. This makes the tail of the female lighter 
throughout than that of the male, and as a matter of fact the 
female is a lighter bird throughout. The tail proper should 
show for its entire width for a full inch or more beyond its 
coverts, is neither rolled nor pointed, nor is it buried in the 
cushion feathers. The curling feathers that fill in the space 
between the two sides of the tail proper, are generally white 
with but few colored feathers mixed in, while those of the 
male are largely made up of black or black and white, whiten- 
ing out as they approach the fluff. In accurate judging, 
philosophically conducted, all these matters are to be carefully 
weighed. If the coverlets are white they should be cut 1 
point; but if in addition the tail proper be one-third white 
from below, or the tips are white, a further cut of from 1 to H 
points should be made, thus making a "cotton-tailed" bird 
liable to be cut from 1 to 2h points. 

The Legs and Feet. — Under this section are considered the 
lower thigh, or what is called the drumstick in dressed poul- 
try, the hock joint, the shank, the toes, and the plumage of 
the same. The lower thigh should be comparatively stout, 



('A PlIIJ.OSOPHY OF JlI)(;iNU. 

the lower portion with the hocks should appear in i)rofile, the 
plumage being webbed and smooth ; the fluff should not stand 
out about the thighs as in the Cochins, being less abundant. 
AVe have no objection to the outside of the hock joint being^ 
covered by the plumage of the thigh, but if there is any ap- 
pearance of vulture hock, the specimen should be cut from ^ 
to 2 points; if the defect demands a greater punishment than 2 
points, nothing is left to be done but to disqualify. The shanks- 
should be medium in length, not so short as to give the speci- 
men a dwarfish appearance, which is not a Brahma character- 
istic, nor should they be so long as to give the bird a crane-like 
appearance. Of the two evils the former is the less and a cut 
of 2 point will generally be sufficient; but for the latter a juore 
severe cut should be made, say from 5 to l.] points, the latter 
for an extreme case. When the shanks do not stand straight 
but bend in at the hock joint, forming in a greater or less de- 
gree the defect known as "knock-kneed," cut from ^ to 3 points,, 
according to the amount of the defect. The shanks should be 
in color yellow or reddish yellow, and heavily feathered down 
the outer sides, covering the outer toes with these feathers. In. 
mature hens, as distinguished from pullets, a light yellow 
shank ought to be allowed to compete on an equality with the 
bright yellow shank of a chicken, for age with the exhaustion 
that follows reproduction and confinement, bleaches out the 
shank. A reasonably yellow shade should pass uncut. A 
very pale straw^ color in the shanks and toes of hens should be 
cut but slightly, not more than ^ point. A flesh colored shank 
disqualifies. If the feathering on the outer side of shanks be 
too light; if it, when pressed down, will not reach to the end of 
the outer toe it should be cut from 2 to 1 point. The outer 
and middle toes should be feathered to the end, but if both 
are bare, and the shank feathers when pressed down will reach 
to the extremity of the outer toe the bird should not be dis-^ 
qualified. A bare outer toe, however, is a serious defect and 
should be cut li points. A bare middle toe, owing to the 



LicuT Braii;\ias. (55 

desire of some breeders to luive the fowl so bred, and owing to 
the faet that when lieavily feathered there is a tendency to 
vulture hock, shoul<l be cut more leniently and a cut of 1 
point is sufficient. If ])oth middle and outer toes are bare, 
then the cuts should aggregate 21 points. 

For greater convenience of reference w^e tabulate the cuts to 
l)e made. The first table, for Condition, will not be repeated, 
as it is applicable to all breeds. 

CVTS FOR CONDITION. ' 

Too fat or too lean ^2 to 2 

Weeping eye 1 

Distemper 1 

Roughness of shank ] to l> 

T"fncleanliness 2 to 2 

(JinS FOR FORM. 

COMB. 

Crooked middle section 1 

All three sections crooked Li to 3 

Too large h to 1* 

HEAD. 

Narrowness of skull .] to 1 

Very small wattles 2 

Very large wattles .^ to 1 

Lack of throat in hen 1 

NECK. 

Too long h 

Too short \ 

Too straight 1 

Scanty hackle, causing slim neck -2 to 1 

Too long and flowing nackle ^ 

BACK. 

Too straight or roached i to 1^ 

Narrow in front of tail i to 1 

Convex saddle .] to 1 

5 



66 Philosophy of Judging. 

BREAST. 

Flatness .] to 2 

Lack of forward sweej) 1 

BODY. 

Flatness of sides and narrowness of fluft' •] to 1 

WINGS. 

Twisted feathers 1 to 2 

Imperfect folding- ^ to 1| 

TAIL. 

Carried too bigii •] to 1 

Carried too low I to 1 

Close and pinched 1 to 1^ 

Hpread too much ^ 

Straight sickles * 1 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Approach to vulture hock 2 t<^ ^ 

Shanks too short I 

Shanks too long 2 to U 

Knock-kneed 2 to o 

Too light leg feathering 2 to 1 

Bare outer toe . 1^ 

Bare middle toe 1 

CUTS FOR COLOB. 

NECK. 

Want of striping in hackle ^ to ;)2 

Faded color in stripes 5 to o 

Smutty lacing 2 to 2 

Solid black for two inches from point 2| 

Faded stripe in hen's hackle 2 to 8 

BACK. 

Gray or slaty shading on surface 2 to 1 

Black ticks over shell-bone 2 

Black ticks extending across the back to hackle . . Disqualify. 

Dark slate spots in back of female 2 to I2 

Yellow tinge 2 to I2 



Light Braii.mas. 



67 



WIXG!S. 

White in primaries of male i to o 

White in upper edge of secondaries (male) j to ?» 

Yellow tinge on coverts 1 to 1-9 

Primaries of females, more than one-half white ... i to 2 
Secondaries of females, more than one-half white . . 2 to 2 

TAIL. 

White in sickles two inches from body 1 

White in sickles above coverlets 1 to 1^ 

White coverts 1 

White on main tail feathers 1 

White tips to main tail feathers 1 

White coverlets on female 1 

White main tail feathers one-third length 1 to 1^ 

White tips, main tail feathers 1 to 1^ 

'' Cotton tail" 1 to 2.] 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Pale straw color on hen's shanks ... i 




DARK BRAHMAS. 

As we have already shown, the Dark Brahma differs from 
the Light in shape. It is true that by a vote of the American 
Poultry Association at its thirteenth annual meeting, held at 
Indianapolis, Ind., in Januai'y, 18<SS, the Dark variety was 
required to be descril^ed in form the same as the Light, but it 
is quite probable that the breeders of Dark Brahmas will still 
adhere to a differnt shape for their variety, and the judging of 
Dark Brahmas and Light Brahmas will differ only in the 
matter of the application of the Standard to color, and what 
we have already said in reference to judging the Light variety 
in shape will apply to the Dark variety. 

In this work, however, as we make our appeal to nature^ 
and as we wish it to be reasonably complete so that it will 
meet either condition of the Standard, we shall consider the 
form of the Dark Braiima as it is, and as it ought to be in the 
Standard, midw^ay between the Light Brahma and the Cochin, 
This is the form that w^e find, and what we should expect to 
find from the origin of the breed. The best record of the 
origin of the Dark Brahma — one which we think cannot be 
successfully controverted — is that it sprung from a cross of the 
Marsh fowls — which were Cochins — and the Gray Chittagongs,. 
a brood of chicks bred and sent to England by George P. 
Burnham, of Melrose, Mass. These chicks were further 
subjected to a cross with the pea-combed Light Brahmas, and 
to a still further cross with the Partridge Cochin to secure the 
very desirable accuracy of penciling, lifter some twelve 
years of careful breeding in England, the fowl was returned to 
the United States in 1865 as the Dark Brahma. It is easy and 
interesting to trace in the fowl itself the evidence of its 
composite origin. Its pea-comb and its general shape show 



I)af:k Brahmas. (;y 

the iiiflueii(;e of the Brahma blood ; its slioiter appearing 
back, fuller cushion and saddle, looser plumaoe and different 
tail mark the general infusion of Cochin blood ; its beautiful 
penciling and the not infrequent ruddy tinge to the body coloi- 
of the hens point with an uneiring finger to the effects of its 
union with the Partridge Cochin. History, so far as it has 
been preserved, and the effects of nature, coincide in their 
testimony that the beautiful Dark Brahma is of composite 
origin and is a compromise in type between the Cochin and 
the Brahma. 

While it is true that occasional specimens may be found 
exhibiting the true Light Brahma type of form, it is equally 
true that others can be found which exliibit the true Cochin 
type, and we believe the Dark Brahma could more easily be 
bred to the true Cochin type than to the true Brahma type. 
It would have been more in harmony with the natural develop- 
ment of the breed to have classed it with the C^ochins than to 
have required it to conform to the extreme type of the 
Brahma, and we believe that its breeders would have been 
better satisfied if it had been called a Pea-combed Cochin than 
they will be with the present vote of the American Poultry 
Association. 

However this may be, we shall consider the Dark Brahma 
as we find it, and have found it for years, in the hands of its 
most eminent breeders. Our illustration gives the true 
characteristics of its type, and should be considered in con- 
nection with what we say in reference to its form. 

It is unnecessary to enter uj)on details in the first three 
sections of our Scale, for the first is a general section applying 
to all breeds alike, and the Comb, Head, P^ar-lol^es and Wattles 
of the Dark and Light Brahma are essentially alike. There is, 
however, a slight difference, those features of the Dark 
Brahma being rather smaller in proportion to the size of the 
bird, than they are in the Light Brahma. But this slight 
difference, while it should be regarded in the actual scorin<?of 



70 Philosophy of Jl'dgixg. 

the fowl, calls for no further comment than to call attention to 
its existence. The x^rinciples of scoring^ the method of mak- 
ing cuts, will remain unchanged. We therefore pass to the 
next section. 

The Neck. — The actual length of the neck of the Dark 
Brahma equals that of the Light Brahma, but, owing to the 
greater length of the hac£;le and its more curved character, 
its apparent length is not so great. The arch of the neck is 
more marked, and in judging should be required. Bearing 
these facts in mind we should for form make the following 
cuts: Neck too long, Ajjoint; neck too short, I point; neck 
too little arched, 1 point; hackle so scanty as to cause the 
neck to appear too slim, .^ to 1 point. While the hackle of a 
Light Brahma male is a white feather embellished with black, 
that of the Dark Brahma male is a black feather embellished 
with silvery white. This makes a considerable difference, 
although the description could be in almost identical words. 
The Light Brahma feather removed from the neck loses half 
its beauty, but the Dark Brahma feather when so removed 
does not. A Light Brahma breeder, when he wishes to show 
a hackle feather seeks a black or blue ground to exhibit it 
upon, but the Dark Brahma breeder can show his feather 
upon almost any background The under-color of the Dark 
Brahma is black or dark slate, which causes the central stripe 
to appear more intense in color, but when closely examined it 
will be found that the metallic lustre does not extend further 
up the feather than the feather is exposed to the sun and the 
air. In scoring we should cut for white under-color from \ to 
l-T points; for a dead, lustreless black stripe, from \ to \h 
points; for the silvery lacing, if its outer edge be edged with 
black, or if it have a rusty or yellow shading, 5 to IJ points. 
This black edging, producing what is termed a "smutty neck," 
is caused by the central stripes extending to the points of the 
feather and thence around the outer edge. Such specimens 
have hackle feathers with dull or wide points to the central 



Uakk Brajimas. 71 

strijies. The smutty edging to the silver lacing is never seen 
in a feather in which the stripe does not reach the extreme 
})oint, but this reaching of the point of the feather is not of 
itseh' a defect that requires to be cut ; it is only when it spreads 
out beyond the point and o])literates to a greater or less extent 
the silvery embellishment that it needs cutting. As the effect 
is not so glaring in Dark Brahmas as in Light Brahmas, the 
defect can ])e passed more leniently in the Dark variety, when 
it is of the same extent, than in the Light. In the females 
the necks of the Dark and Light Brahmas look more nearly of 
a length than in the males, owing to the fact that the fuller 
plumage of modest hue of the Dark Brahma is offset by the 
lighter hue of the Light Brahma — white being a color which 
always produces an appearance of fullness. From careful 
examinations which we have made, which, perhaps, may have 
been exceptions to the general rule, we believe that the Dark 
Brahma females generally cari-y the head farther forward than 
the Light Brahma females. If in a flock of Dark Brahma 
females a drop line from the eye to the ground would strike 
the tip of the middle toe, a similar, drop line in a flock of 
Light Brahmas would strike a point near the instep. A Dark 
Brahma female should pass uncut for carrying its head far 
enough forward in a Light Brahma to cause a cut of I point. 
Here is an example of the Cochin tendency of the breed, not 
often noted by judges and breeders. For this reason also a 
Dark Brahma female having a neck as well arched as is re- 
quired for a Light Brahma female should also pass uncut. 
Specimens having extra penciled breasts are apt to have the 
black centres of the hackle also penciled, and as this is a fault 
which generally accompanies a super-excellence, it should 
be treated with (charity ; a cut of from ^ to ] point will be 
sufficient. 

The Back. — The back of the male appears shorter and 
broader than in the Light Brahma, owing to the more, 
abundant plumage of the back antl saddle. The saddle begins 



r^ 



PiiiLosoi'iiv OK Jri)(;rN(i. 



to rise near the centre of tlie I>aek, as it curves to tiie tail, and 
in many specimens the Hue is nearly a straiarht one. Our idea 
of the back, as we find it in nature, is, that it should have a 
broad, fiat cape, which gently slopes to the centre of the back, 
and from which point the saddle rises in a gentle concave 
sweep to the tail, mucli less pronounced than in the Light 
variety. The saddle should be full, and its feathers long. 
Such a l)ack, approximating in its outline to that of a Cochin, 
would in the Light Brahma require to be cut, but in the Dark 
Brahma should be deemed perfect. Nor would we cut it for 
less fullness as it aj»{»roached more closely to the type of the 
Light variety, for it would still agree with the description of 
the t*?tandard. But as it varied from this form and took on 
more of the convexity of the Cochin, it should receive a cut 
of from .1 to 1.] points. In this way due allowance would Vje 
made for the composite origin of the breed and for the natural 
development due to such origin, while at the same time the 
Standard descri})tion would remain unviolated. The color of 
the centre of the back is a silver gray or steel gray, called in 
the Standard a silvei'y white; the color of a freshly broken 
bar of steel we should call perfect. If this color is mixed 
with black, bronze or red, or the whole is shaded with yellow, 
a cut of from .] to 2 points should be made. If the saddle l)e 
so tarnished, or the blac-k stripe demanded in its featliers be 
faded out to a gray or white, cut from ^ to 2 points. Absolute 
white in the under-color should l)e cut from ^ to 1 g points. In 
females the outline of the back is far more Cochin-like than 
in males, and we are of the opinion that quite a cushion is 
deemed desirable by many breeders. For a really straight 
back, and even for one that was slightly cushioned, we would 
not cut for form. But when pronounced in cushion we would 
cut 1 point. A long, closely feathered back we would cut 1 
point; a narrow and oval one from wing to wing, 1 point. 
The cajie and she11-l)one should be fiat and have a gentle slope 
towards the tail. Such a want of penciling as faile<l to pro- 



Dark Bkahmas. 7:> 

iluce tlii' dark lines parallel with the outlines of the feather 
should be cut from h to li points. A decided pepper and salt 
pattern to the feathers, even if pure in shade, should be cut 
\}> points. If the ground color is shaded with brown, cut h to 
\h points, in proportion to the amount of the brown. 

2'he Breast. — In the male the breast is broad, and, as com- 
])ared to that of the Light Brahma, flat, but having [)rominent 
quarters and well rounded sides; it is also deep, owing to the 
fact that the keel-bone is carried low. In making our cuts 
this peculiarity of shape should be borne in mind. For ex- 
cessive flatness of the breast a cut should be made of -, to '2 
points. For want of proper roundness and prominence of the 
(piarters, from -', to 1 point. For lack of proper depth, from I 
to 1 point. In color the breast is solid black, For a breeder 
we prefer a male with a breast that is dotted here and there 
with small white dots, but such a breast would have to be cut 
in an exhibition specimen from A to 1 point; and if these 
white spots should amount to splashes of white they should 
be cut from 1 1 to 2 points. In the females the breasts are less 
prominent than those of the Light variety. Judges, unwilling 
to acknowledge this natural development, often cut severely 
for what is a natural characteristic of the variety, and thus 
do a serious injustice to the variety. By confining their 
attention to the actual lines of the breast, and giving due 
credit to its fullness and roundness, they can afford to pass 
its apparent smallness as compared with that of a Light 
Brahma. There will be opportunity to cut enough for want of 
penciling to relieve the tenderest conscience for all the 
leniency shown towards the apparent size. If a breast ap- 
pears wedge-shaped when viewed in front, it should be cut 
from i to 1 point. When color is reached the judge has 
generally enough cutting to do. For want of penciling on the 
throat and the upper part of the breast cut from i to 2^ points. 
For brown shading in the light ground color cut from h to 1 
]»oint. Some very fine specimens, to all appearance on a 



74 Philosophy of Juugixc;. 

general survey, will disappoint the judge upon a closer 
examination, for though the dark lines are beautiful and stand 
out clearly, the ground color will look clouded, as if saturated 
with molasses and water. We havc seen this defect cause a 
difierence of 25 points between the scores of judges, the one 
considering only the general appearance and being misled by 
the sharp dark lines, while the other carefully considered each 
feature and weighed the whole. Careful examination should 
be made, but it should be done quickly, and first impressions, 
when the mind is free from bias, and a sharp, quick examina- 
tion of each section and part of the section has been made, 
will generally be found to be correct. 

The Bodij. — By reason of the deep keel the body of the male 
does not look quite as round at the sides as that of the Light 
Brahma, but it must be in keeping with the broad breast. 
The proper thickness can be quickly detected by looking at 
the legs, for, if they are straight and wide apart the body will 
inYarial)ly be all that is desired in form. The defect for form 
in this section, if any exists, will generally be found in the 
fluff, which has been added to it; if that is so close and thin 
as to prominently display the thighs, cut 1 point. The color, 
if black, or black slightly frosted with gray, will pass uncut; 
if splashed with white, or dotted with irregularly shape<l 
white spots, cut from h to lA points. If the fluff is broad, but 
not hanging below the keel-bone, and is in color dark slate or 
l)lack frosted with gray, it will pass uncut; if white, cut I 
point; if dark slate, but opeus white, cut 1 point. When the 
body was joined to the breast in one section, its defects were 
apt to slip by unnoticed, but since it has become a section by 
itseM it will undergo as rigid a scrutiny as the other parts. In 
the females, if the body when viewed from the front preserves 
the oval lines of the breast, do not cut for form. If the fluff 
clearh'^ drops below the keel-bone cut 1 point. If the pencil- 
ing fades out and does not extend down to the thighs, or if it 



Dark Bkahmas. ''^ 

be streaked with gray, cut 1 point. If tlie color be light gray, 
steel gray being the perfect color, cut ^ point. 

rC ]V///r/..-The wings of the Dark Brahma are much 
larger than'those of the Cochin, and nearly of the size of 
those of the Light Brahma. The size of the wmg and its 
carria-e well forward, so that l)ut little of the breast appears m 
front of the wing-fronts, form one of the greatest distinguish- 
inc ditterences between the Dark Brahmas and the Cc)chins, 
and this, with the comb, are almost the only purely Brahma 
features, in form, that we find in the breed. Our illustration 
is intended to bring out these features, and, unlike the usual 
representations with very small wings, is true to lite, ihe 
win-s should be in harmony with the size of the struc ure, 
and it cannot be called small. A medium sized wing, how- 
ever by disclosing more apparent breast, is regarded as an 
excellence, and though seldom seen, we should not cat for 
small size When set on low down it causes a serious defect, 
making tlie cape oval, M'hich causes the back to look narrow 
•md of' ill shape. While this causes a cut in the back, tlie 
defect is itself a real one, and should receive a cut of 1 point. 
If the primaries are badly folded, cut from h to 2 points lor 
white spots in the upper webs of the primaries and secondaries 
of males cut from ^ to 3 points. For rust in the smaller wmg 
coverts cut * to U points. For white or rusty color m the 
larger coverts, which form the wing-bar, cut trom . to 1, 
points For bronze or brown in the outer webs of the 
secondaries, which mars the beauty of the triangular white 
tips in the rear of the wing-bars, cut i to U points. In the 
females the usual "outs" are for want of penciling. When 
the -round color seems to consist' of steel gray and brownish 
gray%oth penciled, and gives a patchy appearance, cut .to 1 
point For "pepper and salt" penciling, in which the dark 
color predominates, cut A to U points. For white in the 
primaries cut from Uo U, and in extreme cases as high as .. 
points. 



7(> Philosophy of JLixiixG. 

The Tail. — The tail is an annual. If a cofk lives to be five 
years old he will have had tive tails. When shown in the 
usual exhibition season, from December to February, this 
annual will not have reached its full maturity; it will be about 
three-fourths groAvn. Tlie judge has to pass upon three- 
fourths grown tails rather than fully matured tails, and he 
ought to remember this fact. The question he should ask 
himself is, " Is this a perfect tail for the state of its growth ?" 
The males, especially in their second year, have a well de- 
veloped tail, l)ut as they are not shown at the time of the full 
development of the tail, the term needs to be modified by the 
facts. In the show season, ''medium size" is the term whicli 
best expresses the true state of the bird's development. To 
judge a bird in the show season by a rule which would apply 
only to his full development, would be an egregious error, and 
no good judge would be guilty of it. The most perfect type of 
form in the female, we find in the full muscles and fine de- 
velopment that precedes laying, for after reproduction has 
begun the hens breed out of shape. Everything, indeed, 
iiinges on age, and without considering age judging becomes 
unreasonal)le unscientific and unphiloso})hical. Taking into 
account then the (|uestion of age and the development that is 
to be expected at the age, we should cut for straight sickles 
and nearly straight lesser sickles in the tail of the male 1 
point; for too upright carriage, api)r()aching to squirrel tail. ■' 
to IJ, the latter when the tail was really squirrel; for want of 
expansion at the base, not in keeping with the full saddle, h to 
I point; for white in the tail h to 3 points, according to tlie 
amount. We look for a more pinched tail in the Dark 
Brahma female than in the Light, but if it ])e really of Cochin 
shape it should be cut 1 point; when partially fanned out 
laterally it should pass uncut, and when well spread, equaling 
that of the Light Brahma, it shoul<l l)e regarded of so great 
value as to place the bird ahead of another equal in other 
respects but lacking in this full expansion. F(»r too upright 



Dark Bkahmas. 77 

carriage, in extreme cases called squirrel tail, cut •] to 1 .] 
points; for drooping cari-iage of tail, 1 point; for had color, .1 
to 1 point ; for white at the roots of the main tail feathers, \ 
to I2 points. 

The Legs and Feet. — When compared with the Light Brahma, 
the Dark Brahma has slightly shorter legs, stout and large in 
bone, and more like the Cochins. The plumage on the thighs 
and at the hock joints is more profuse, and as the fibre of the 
feather is more whalebony than in the Cochins thej' suffer 
more from vulture hocks than do the Cochins or the Light 
Brahmas. As all this is a natui'ul characteristic of the breed, 
it should be carefully considered in scoring to jirevent in- 
justice. A hocked bird is one that has a full development of 
plumage about the hock joint; when not only full, but stiff, 
it becomes a vulture hock. If we had to score a Light 
Brahma, a Dark Brahma, and a Cochin, that had hocks of an 
equal size, the one on the Light Brahma being realh' sufficient 
for disqualiffcation, we should disqualify the Light Brahma, 
cut the Dark Brahma 2 points, and the Cochin U points. 
The reason is plain. The stiff^ness of the feather on the Light 
Brahma would make a vulture hock and demand disqualifica- 
tion ; the greater profuseness of plumage on the Dark Brahma, 
entitling it by nature to have a larger hock, and the less stiff"- 
ness of the feather would entitle it to not more than a 2 point 
cut, while the softer feather and the more curled web of the 
Cochin would make the evil still less, and a cut of I5 points 
would be amply sufficient correction for the defect. Remem- 
l)ering then the natural development of the Dark Brahma, we 
should cut for bare middle toes, 1 point ; for bare outer toes, 
1 2 points ; for bare middle and outer toes, 2h points, provided 
the shank feathers, when pressed down, would cover the outer 
toes, if not then disqualify. The hock should be completely 
covered by the plumage. If the hock is large, and the feather 
is partially stiff" in quill and curls about the hock, cut from I to 
2 points; if the specimen is verv bad, and the judge is satis- 



78 Phij.osophv of Judginc;. 

tied that it has not been tampered witli, cut ;> ])oints and aive 
it the benefit of the doubt ; if a cut of 3 points is not sufficient 
for the defect the bird sliould be disqualified. With the fuller 
feather development that the Standard of Perfection permits, 
larger hocks may be expected in the exhibition room. To 
avoid disqualification, and to save as much as possible in the 
score, there is a temptation to tamper with the hock feathers, 
and by breaking the quills cause them to curl about the hocks. 
Last season we saw cases wdiere the feathers were thus broken 
in froui three to five places. Such a specimen should be 
promptly disqualified, even if the evil would not have caused 
disqualification had the bird not been tampered with. Either 
this should be done, or the judge should carefully consider 
what the cut would have been if the bird had been shown in 
its natural condition, and then add to the cut that would have 
been given, from 1 to I2 points for the broken feathers. Ex- 
hibitors may growl, they may even threaten the judge in 
private letters, but they will carefully keep out of print, for 
the exposure of their crookedness is not what they desire. 
Something must be done to check this evil, both in the inter- 
ests of common decency and fairness to honest competitors 
who show their fowls in strict accordance with the rules of the 
society holding the exhibition. When the hocks bend in, 
producing a tendency to knock-knees, cut from l to 3 points. 
For too short shanks, cut h point; for too long, h to l?, points. 
For too light leg feathering, 2 to 1 point should be cut. The 
shanks and toes are reddish yellow in males and dusky yellow 
in females, and any reasonable yellow or dusky yellow re- 
spectively should pass uncut. In fowls, a light straw color 
sh.ould be cut but 1 point. Shanks having a real flesh color, 
pinkish white, black, or real willow, should disqualify the 
specimen. 



Dark Brahmas. 70 

CUTS FOR FORM. 

[For Comb and Head, see table for Light Brahmas.] 

NECK. 

Too long 5 

Too short h 

Too little arched 1 

.Scanty hackle, causing slim neck i to 1 

BACK. 

Too convex h to \h 

Pronounced cushion in female 1 

Long, closely feathered in female 1 

Narrow and oval in female 1 

BREAST. 

Too flat i to 2 

Lack of roundness of quarters J to 1 

Lack of depth y to 1 

Wedge-shaped in female Mo 1 

BODY. 

Too close and thin fluff 1 

Fluff below keel in female 1 



WINGS. 

Too low set 1 

Badly folded flights ^o 2 

TAIL. 

Straight sickles 1 

Too upright carriage ! | to I5 

Want of expansion at base ^o 1 

Cochin-shaped in female 1 

Drooping in female 1 



so Philosophy of Judging. 

LE(4S AND FEET. 

Bare midddle toes 1 

Bare outer toes I5 

Bare outer and middle toes 2| 

Large hocks 1 to 3 

Knock knees 2 to o 

Too short shanks 2 

Too long shanks ■] to 1^ 

Too light feathering on shanks .} to J 



errs for color. 

XECK. 

White under-color •] to 1.] 

Lustreless stripe 2 to l^] 

Smutty edging 2 to L] 

Penciled hackle in female 2 to 1 

BACK. 

Shaded with foreign colors 2 to 2 

Tarnished saddle -j to 2 

Faded stripe in saddle 2 to 2 

White under-color -i to L] 

Imperfect penciling in female • 2 to Ij 

Pepper and salt penciling H 

Ground color shaded with brown . 2 to I2 

BREAST. 

AVhite dots i to 1 

White splashes H to 2 

W^ant of penciling on female 2 to 2^ 

Brown shading on ground color 2 to 1 

Molasses and water ground color 2^ 



Dark Bra u. mam. si 

BODY. 

Dotted or splashed with white .', to l.l 

White on fiufi' I 

Fluff opening white 1 

Lack of penciling on thighs (female) 1 

Streaked with gray • I 

Light gray ground color ' •] 

AVINGK. 

White spots in upper web of flights 2 to 3 

Rust on smaller wing coverts 2 to I2 

White or rusty color on larger coverts 2 to i^ 

Bronze or brown on outer webs of secondaries . . . . ^ to 1 i 

Patchy ground color on female 5 to 1 

Pepper and salt penciling 2 to IJ 

White in flights - ■ i to 3 

TAIL. 

White in tail ^ to 3 

Bad color (female) 2 to 1 

White at roots 2 to Ig 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Light straw color on shanks of fowls 1 




(MKIHINS. 

The Cochins present the tlihxl type in the Asiatic chiss, a 
type which is not iiiaj)tly descrihed as one of convex hnes. 
The breast, the neck, the saddle or cnshion, tlie tail ot males, 
the finff. the sides, all present the convex as their line of 
beanty The fact that so many Cochin fanciers are "solid 
men" — solid at least ]»hysically — lends some force to the say- 
ing that our pets look wonderfnlly like ourselves, a saying, 
however, whicli it will not do to push too hard. In all the 
varieties we find the same general type, though in some it is 
more pronounced than in others. The Buff Cochin represents 
one extreme of the development, the Black, perhaps, the 
other. Between these extremes the other varieties fall, but, as 
the type is one, as the Standard description is the same, as 
Cochin breeders are successfully brin.ging their fowls to a sub- 
stantial unity of type, as the application of the Standard to 
form is the same, we shall treat of the scoring of form of all 
varieties together, and consider the scoring of the several 
varieties for color separately. 

The typical Cochin we have represented in our illustration, 
an illustration made from a careful study of the breed itself. 
The male Cocliin is a long feathered, soft feathered, square, 
heavy looking bird, with shortish looking neck and legs, heavy 
tiuff, the saddle rising with a gentle sweep from the middle of 
the back to the tail ; the female possesses similar characteristics 
as to shortness of limb and length of feather, head carried 
forward, (cushion pronounced, fluff abundant. In this short- 
ness of joint and of body we believe that egg production has 
been more or less sacrificed, for the longer bodied, shorter 
plumaged specimens of the Cochin family lay the largest eggs 



CofniNs. S/J 

and the most of them. The Partridge C(X'hins have less pro- 
nounced convex lines than the Buff, and tl)eir eggs are largei- 
and quite as numerous ; the Blacks have the least convex lines 
and tlxej' are heyond dispute the most prolific layers of the 
largest eggs among the four varieties. For a long time the 
AVhite variety failed in extreme Cochin development, but of 
late years marked im})rovement has been made, and those 
exhibited at last winter's shows were among the best we have 
ever seen. We call attention to these matters at the outset, 
for, as the practical qualities lie at the foundation of the whole 
poultry interest, without which it would languish and decline 
if not perish, we hold that seeming defects, considered from a 
purely fancy point, which do not injure but rather tend to 
promote intrinsic merit, should be cut more leniently than 
those defects which clearly injure both beauty and merit. 
We do not forget, however, that the Cochins, and especially 
certain varieties, are highly fancy and greatly fancied fowls, 
and that the Standard is the supreme law, where it does not - 
conflict with nature, and in exhibition specimens, with which 
the judge is primarily concerned, the most perfect develop- 
ment is to be desired. The Standard of Perfection, intention- 
ally or otherwise, has foreshadowed this principle in describing 
the back of the male as having "a gentle convex curve to the 
tail," but a specimen exhibiting even more than this, in fact 
with a full and pronounced convex sweep, ought not to be cut 
for this over-development in excess of the Standard descrip- 
tion. A "gentle convex curve" is also demanded for the 
•cushion of the female, and any over-development would not 
be a defect. Such over-development, except in cases of ties, 
deserves no extra credit, for a specimen sufficiently developed 
to fill the outline of our illustration ought to pass uncut. 

The strongest characteristics of the Cochin are the form of 
the back, the saddle or cushion, the carriage and size of the 
wings. The birds which are the ])est in weight,J)ack, wings, 



<S4 P}iiLOs(>i'}iY OF JrixiiNc;. 

breast, and tail, other things eqnal, are the ones that deserve 
the highest honors. 

As a passing remark upon color, we desire to correct an 
erroneous impression. It is generally thought that penciled 
birds will not score nearly as high as solid colored or self- 
colored birds. In a slight degree this is true, but not to the 
extent that is generally supposed. The American Poultry 
Association has recognized this fact by voting that in sweep- 
stake prizes, when the scores between solid and parti-colored 
birds are the same, the parti-colored birds shall be declared 
the winners. To that extent the vote is just. But, when it is 
remembered that in penciled birds the colors are distin(;t and 
almost never clouded, and that in self-colored birds the color 
varies in shade and produces cloudiness, the difference 
be'tween the two is seen to be not as great as is generally sup- 
posed. Imperfect penciHng is offset by want of clearness in 
the self-color, and in the Buff, Black and White varieties there 
is nearly as much difference between a clear, rich buff and 
the faded buff', a metallic black" and the dead, faded and rusty 
black, and a clear, shining white and the yellow shaded white, 
as there is between the sharp, clear penciling and the broken 
pepper and salt of the Partridge. The cuts will be of nearly 
the same amount. The fact is, that perfection is about as 
dihicult to obtain in the one case as in the other, and when 
obtained is to be as highly valued. Any departure from per- 
fection deserves a cut of the proper percent, and an imperfectly 
penciled back is no more imperfect than a rusty black, a faded 
buff, or a stained white, provided the percentage of departure 
from perfection is the same. The Decimal Scale which we use 
recognizes this, and is therefore founded upon true and philo- 
sophical principles. 

Bearing in mind these general principles, and the small but 
specific differences in the varieties, w^e consider the form of the 
Cochin as substantially one and illustrate the proper scoring 
of the form. 



Cochins. 85 

The Comb — The Cochin comb is small in comparison to the 
size of the bird, and should have live or six points, either to be 
considered perfect. Deep serrations are not to be considered 
a defect ; better too deep than too slmllow, for the comb will 
stand more firmly upon the head. For every point the comb 
fails of five, cut 1 point. If it is wide and curled from the 
bottom of the rear from pressing on the back of the head, cut 
from I to U, in proportion as it turns to one side at the rear. 
If it fall over from the top to one side, or if the comb be 
twisted over the beak, disqualify. A twisted comb is one 
that forms a loop on both sides of a line drawn from the beak 
through the median line of the comb to 
its rear (as in a) ; but if only one loop is 
formed (as in b), caused by the too 
rapid growth of the top, the disqualifi- 
cation of a twisted comb is not et^tab- 
lished, but only a defect, which should 
be cut from h to 1 point. For a comb that is too large, cut 
from 2 to H points, the latter only in excessive cases. 

TJic Head. --The head of a Cochin is small, when compared 
with the size of the bird or with a Brahma of equal weight,' 
but it should not in the male have any appearance of 
efieminacy by narrowness oi- flatness over the nostrils, such a 
defect deserving a cut of from .] to 1 point. The ear-lobes 
should be fairly developed and the wattles of rather more than 
medium size and pendulous in character. Large wattles are 
not a serious defect, while small ones are. It is seldom 
necessary to cut for too large a size of wattles, while for small 
wattles there should be a cut of from h to 3 points, the latter 
only when no wattles appear. 

The Neck.— The hackle in males should be abundant and 
long enough to cover the shoulder points and cape; if the 
liackle fails to cover the shoulder points, cut 1 point. If the 
neck is nearly straight, cut 1 point. If the neck is too lon<? or 



S() PiiiLof^oiMiv OK ,lri)(;iN(;. 

too Hhort, cut 2 point. In the females the head is carried 
forward enough to cause in a Brahma a cut of 2 point. The 
faults in the neck of females are generally for color, but if the 
neck is too slim — and not apparently so because of color — cut 
from 2 to 1 point; and for too long or too short a neck, cut ] 
point. 

The Bark. — In the male tlu' cape is fiat and broad, the back 
has a downward slope towards the tail until it reaches the 
saddle, which commences at a point just back of the hackle 
and gently rises to and nearly envelopes the tail. Not in one 
case in five hundred, unless the specimen be very fat or the 
l)lumage is assisted by curling, is there any convex sweep to 
the saddle. We are speaking of the birds as nature produces 
them, not as the Standard describes them. The saddle, how- 
ever, is full and should oe nearly as broad in front of the tail 
as the back is at the shoulders, from which point it rounds oti' 
around the nicely rolled tail. A spare or narrow saddle should 
l)e cut from 2 to 1 point; for flatness or depression that allows 
the tail to cut through the same, .] to 1 point. In the females 
for a failure in the convex line of the cushion, cut 1 point; for 
narrowness of Ijack or cushion, '> to 1 point. 

Tlw Breast. — In the male the breast should be deep and 
well rounded in front. For any undue flatness in front, cut 2 
to 1 point. The breast of a Cochin is never so full in the 
(Quarters as that of a Brahma, and its lower keel carries the 
breast meat lower down and causes the convex lines to describe 
a longer arc. The quarters also appear less prominent, but 
the breast looks wider and broader. These characteristics 
must be carefully taken into consideration in cutting for form. 
In the females the posterior weight and heavy fluff causes the 
breast to look much smaller than it really is, as any one can 
demonstrate by taking a pair of scissors and cutting away the 
fluff. For this reason the breast is often unjustly cut when 
the fault is located in the body section and due to the develop- 



Cochins. _ , 87 

meiit of the llutf. 11" the breji.st, viewed in iVont, appearn, 
wedge-shaped, it should be cut 1 poir.t; for hick of proper 
sweep in front line, ]> point is generally sufhcient, the forward 
carriage of the head causing the arc from the throat to tiie 
thighs to be longer than in Brahmas, a distinction that must 
be noted if justice is to be done. 

The Bodij. — In the male we look for a deep keel, fairly well 
rounded sides, and fluff that is heavy, stands out, and gives to 
the thighs and hock joints a large a])])earance. F'or want of 
thickness in the body that does not liarmonize with the full 
breast, cut 1 point. For a pinche<l and short pluniaged tiufl", 
cut 1 point. In tij(^ females, if the Hull". drops al)ruptly down 
back of the keel-bone, cut 1 point. If the tlutf' is shrunken, 
causing tlu* stern to look narrow, cut I point. 

TJic WiiKji^. — Tlie set of the wings is im[ft)rtant, as if too. low 
down it destroys the flatness of the l)ack. For a defect of this 
kind, cut ] to 1 i)oint. For imperfect folding of the wings, 
cut from .1 to 2 })oints, according to the degree of the defect. 

Tli.c Tail. — Thei'c is no feature whicii has been more mis- 
represented in iliustrations than the tail of a Cochin. Instea<l 
of being almost wholly buried in the saddle, not over two- 
thirds of its bulk is so buried. In our illustiation we have 
striven to represent this feature as nature produces it in the 
extreme type of her development — the Buff Cochin, the 
variety which of all the Cochin family is the most Cochin in 
characteristics. A tail as good, as fully buried, as is shown in 
the illustration, should not be cut. If smaller and more 
closely rolle<l together it would be an excellence that would 
not add to the score but would eiititle the specimen to a 
j)reference on an ecjual score. Cochins have sickles, but tlie 
plumage is soft and curling an<l therefore adheres closely to 
the tail an<l rolls over and hides the tail proper. If the tail be 
large and expanded it should be cut 1 point; if the sickles are 
prominent, cut 1 })oint; if the sickles are stifl'and straight. 



S<S riiii,(».soi'iiY OF Ji!T)(;iN(;. 

cut 2 to 1 point. 11" in tlic Icniale the tail is fanned out, cut 1 
point. 

The Legs (did J'\u'f. — The thighs and liofk joint should be 
completely covered with the [)lumage, and the shanks and toes 
heavily feathered. For bare middle toes — the Cochin being 
the most profusely feathered family of fowls — cut ].] points. 
If middle and outei" toes are bare, disqualify. The shank 
bone, long and small, cut .] to 1 jtoint; thinly feathered thigh 
and shank, disclosing hock joint, ] to 1 point. Any approxi- 
mation to knock-kneed, I to ;> points. While the hooks may 
be large, vulture hock is a disqualification. Nor need the 
hock be nearly as large as is represented in the Standard 
illustration to be such a vulture hock as to reipiire disciualifica- 
tion. If, instead of curling around the hock the feathers run 
straight back and are stiff in quill the disipialitication of 
vulture hock exists. Fov any approach to vulture hock, but 
not reacliing the- point of dis(]ualification, cut from .] to 2^ 
points. If more than '2\ points are denmnded as a proper 
punishment for the (h'tect the bird should be disqualified. If 
the feathers are broken ' ; i rise them to curl about the hock, 
either cut an extra point beyond what the specimen would 
liave deserved if the feathers had not been broken, or dis- 
qualify. The feathers were broken for a purpose, and he, 
who breaks them, has no just cause of complaint if the judge 
disqualifies the specinu^n. If the feathers have been pulled 
out of the hock plumage, a matter easy to discover, disqualify 
the specimen without hesitation. The absence of such 
feathers is />//>//a fdclr evidence that the bird was dis()ualitied 
or that the exliibitor thought it was. It is well in such eases 
for the judge to agree with the evident opinion of the 
exhibitor. 



CofHiNs. . 89 

CUTS FOR FORM. 

For each point less than tive .... 1 

Tiirniug aside at rear 2 to 11 

Looped to one side u to 1 

Too large Uo U 

HKA1). 

Too narrow 2 to 1 

Too small wattles 2 to :i 

NECK. 

Too short haekle 1 

Too straight 1 

Too long 2 

Too short 

Too slim (female) 2 to 1 

ISACK. 

Spare or narrow saddle 2 to 1 

Flat or depressed saddle 2 to 1 

Not eonvexed cushion . 1 

Narrowness of l)a('k or cushion 2 to 1 

BREAST. 

Too fiat •' to 1 

Wedge-shaped (female) ^ 

Lack of front sweep (female) j 

BODY. 

Lack of thickness • ^ 

Pinched tluflf' 1 

Dropped fluff, rear of keel (female) 1 

Narrow stern (fenuile) 1 

wiN(;s. 

Too low set 2 to 1 

Imperfect folding .' to 2 



90 PiiiLOf^opnY OK JriXxiNc;, 

TAIL. 

Too large and expanded 1 

Sickles prominent 1 

.Sickles stiff and straight * .', to 1 

Fanned ont (female) 1 

[,EOS AND FKKT. 

Bare middle toes 1 ■] 

Shank long and small 2 to 1 

Thinly feathered thigh and shank .1 to I 

Knock-knees .] to .') 

Approach to vulture hock • . . . .] to 2.] 



PAirrKIDGE C0( ' HIXS. 

While foi'ui could be considered togethei-, color must 1)e 
considered separately for each variety, and \ve begin with the 
variety exliibiting the greatest variety of colors and the most 
intricate method of marking. Indeed, beside this variety, all 
the Cochins are self-colored birds. While there is no disput- 
ing about tastes, and one man will prefer the beautiful golden 
hue of the Buff, another the spotless snow of the White, and 
still another the metallic lustre of the Black, we believe that 
not a few will unhesitatingly declare that of all Cochins the 
Partridge is the most beautiful. Our own private taste is a 
matter of concern to no one but ourselves, and so we express 
no opinion upon the matter. All are excellent, all are 
valuable, all deserve cultivation. This at least, we do venture 
to say, that the Partridge Cochin presents the greatest difh- 
culty in breeding and the greatest complication in judging, 
and, therefore, for the purpose of this work deservedly 
receives first consideration. Although to preserve the rich 
colors and secure the beautiful pencilings something has been 



Partrid(;e Cochins. 91 

lost in shape, yet the color and the penciling make tor this 
loss adequate compensation. The first section for considera- 
tion is: 

The Head. — The eye should he red or bay, this color being 
the most desirable, and any dex>arture from it should be cut 
from I to 1 point, the latter cut to be made only Avhen the eye 
is of some color other than a shade of red or bay. If yellow 
or any foreign surface color appears in the ear-lobes it should 
he cut from i to \\ points. If the color of the plumage is 
faded, dull or poor, cut from 2 to 1 point. More than the 
latter amount will seldom or never be recpiired for this defect. 

The Neck. — The hackle of the male should be a rich or dark 
orange bay, striped with black. If the lacing be a faded lemon 
hue it should be cut .^> to 1 point. For bay color intermixed 
with the black of the stripe, or for want of metallic lustre to 
stripe, cut from 5 to 1 i points. In the necks of the females 
the defects are almost invariably for penciling of the black in 
the hackle, and as it is safe to say that prime penciling upon 
tho back, breast and wings is never found without more or 
less penciling of the black in the hackle, in other words as 
this is a defect that accompanies the greatest excellence in tke 
variety, it should be (;ut lightly, ^ point generally being 
sufiicient, and in extreme cases 1 point being ample. Bear in 
mind that with 5 for color I point is 10 per cent, of the whole 
color and 20 per cent, of the black if the striping and lacing 
are evenly divided, and when we come to cut 1 point we take 
'20 per cent, of the whole color and 40 per cent, of the black, 
an amount that ought to satisfy even the severest judge. The 
want of striping in the lower part of the neck plumage often 
causes an appearance of shortness of neck that is improperly 
cut under form. 

The Bach-. — In the male, if the under-fluff is white, cut 2 to 
1 point. If the black stripe of the saddle gives way to a chest- 
nut or ])ay hue, cut .] to 2 points If the lacing fades from a 



92 Philosophy op^ Judging. 

rich red to a lemon color, cut from .', to '2 points, according to 
degree, and the same for mossiness, discoverable in some 
specimens. The color defects of females are generally in the 
amonnt and character of the pencilings. For penciling of the 
pepper and salt })attern, instead of the clear lines that run 
parallel to the outline of the feather, cut from •> to li points. 
For failure of the rich reddish-brown, — the so-called mahogany 
color, — in the ground color, cut 2 to U points. 

The Breai^t. — In the male it should be a rich black. Any 
splashes of red in cockerels should be cut ] to 1 point. In the 
females the pencilings are the greatest faults and receive the 
heaviest cuts, for which reason they seldom score higher than 
the males. For want of penciling, or for "pe[)per and salt" in 
throat and l)reast, cut from .] to 3.2 points. A "clay breast," 
that is one not penciled, or one that is al)solutely free from 
penciling for more than one-half its surface, should be passed 
as an unworthy specimen. 

The Bodi/. — In the male the color is black in front of and on 
the thighs, the soft fluff a dead black. For red or bronze all 
along the side and over the upper thigh cut 1 point. In the 
females the body loses somewhat of its intense shade as it 
leaves the breast and generally fails entirely in its pencilings 
when it reaches the fluff, where the two colors merge into one. 
The penciling, however, should extend over the body and 
thigh, though we do not expect the same brilliancy in colors 
at these points For want of it, cut from J to I point. For a 
fading of the rich ground color to a pale or clay color, cut 
from 2 to 1 point. 

Tlie Wiiiy^. — The wings add greatlv to the beauty of the 
variety in both sexes ; in the male the richness of the colors 
and the brilliancy of the bar, and in the female the perfection 
of the penciling and the proper shade of the ground color, 
are to be sought for and higldy i)rized. Bronze or red in the 
bar cut 2 to I2 points. For the want of a narrow edging to 



Paktrid(;e Cochins. <)3 

the primaries, and for the want of brilHancy to the rich red 
on the outer webs of the secondaries, cut h t^ - points ; for 
white in any part of the wing from h to 2 points. In females, 
the want of well defined lines in the penciUng cut from ^ to 2 
points ; white in the flights from 5 to 2 points. In the last 
thirty years great improvement has been made in the pencil- 
ing of this variety, and yet they do not score any higher, for 
greater accuracy in judging has gone hand in hand with the 
improvement of the fowls. Nature gives better models to breed 
to and to score by, and as nature changes her type, the judge 
who follows nature must change his judging. It was as diffi- 
cult thirty years ago for birds to reach the type of perfection 
of that day as it is for birds to reach the present type of per- 
fection in our day. And it will always be so, for as we ap- 
proach our ideal it recedes from us like the line of the horizon, 
and the unattainable is always in view but always unattained. 

The Tail. — As the tail must be black, any white disqualifies 
in the male. In the female black in the deck feathers and 
upper tail plumage, that gives a dull heavy coloi* to the tail 
and destroys the richness of its ground color, cut i to li 
points. 

llie Legs and Feet. — In the male the tliighs should have a 
plumage of rich black; when tarnished with red or bronze cut 
J to 1 point. The thighs in females should be rich brown, 
penciled like the body but less distinctly. For loss of pencil- 
ing or for faded clay brown color, cut i to 1 point. For white 
in the plumage of the shanks and toes — ^a bad defect in males 
cut from ^ to 2 points. 

CUTS FOR COLOR. 

HEAD. 

Eye, other than red or bay, 5 to 1 

Foreign color in ear-lobes 5 to 1 2 

Faded plumage 5 to 1 



94 Philosophy of Judoing. 

NECK. 

Red in stripe of liackle A to 1.] 

Want of metallic luster in stripe 2 to l^j 

Penciled stripe in hackle (female) 5 to 1 

BACK. 

White in nnder-fiuff .1 to 1 

Chestnut or bay in saddle stripe j to i' 

Pepper and salt pencilins- (female) 2 to 1 •', 

Faded ground color (female) 1 to 1 •> 

BREAST. 

Splashes of red in cockerels 2^ to 1 

Want of penciling (female) i to 80 

Pepper and salt pencihng (female) | to o.] 

BODY. 

lied or bronze along side 1 

Want of penciling (female) 2 to 1 

Fading of ground color (female) i to I 

WINOS. 

Bronze or red in bar • 2 to 1 •] 

Want of edging on primaries 2 to 2 

Want of brill iancy to edging of secondaries 2 to 2 

White in any part I to 2 

Want of penciling (female) I to 2 

White in flights (female) 5 to 2 

THE TAIL. 

Black in deck feathers and upper tail plumage (female) h to LV 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Thighs tarnished with red or bronze 2 to 1 

Loss of penciling (females) 2 to 1 ' 

Faded ground color (females) 2 to 1 

White in shank and toe plumage 2 to 2 



BUFF COCHINS. 

In s(H)ring Buff (\:)C'hiiis some judges have considered only 
the surface color, but is this sound policy ? Would a breeder, 
one who really understood this variety be satisfied with a bird 
that had a white or a dark under-color? Would he not expect 
the bird with the white under-color, especially if mated to one 
with a similar lack of depth of color, to produce chickens that 
would be blotched with white and mealy about the wings ? 
And would he not expect the bird with the dark under-color 
to breed chickens with more black about them than is desira- 
ble ? If this is so, ought not the judge to give some weight to 
the under-color of the specimen ? These are questions that 
will bear studyinu'. 

Under-color is generally lighter than the surface color, for it 
is not exposed to the effects of the sun and the air ; but there 
is a vast difference between a clear buff of light shade and 
clear white under-color. We have exacted that the quills of 
the feathers at least shall retain the buff color, and we believe 
that under-color which is white, or which is so dark — has so 
much of the black element in it— as to permeate the plumage 
with blue streaks, deserves to be considered defective, while 
white quills are certainly foreign to prime specimens. The 
color defects in this variety are found in the differences of 
shade, running from a dark red buff through a rich clear buff", 
to a nearly white color. For this defect in Neck, Back, Breast, 
Body, and Wing Coverts, a cut of from h to 1 point should be 
made, and in the same sections for white under-color a like 
cut should be made. If the j udge is in doubt whether to cut 
as much as I point in any section let him check it thus, X, 
two such checks being considered equivalent to a cut of h 
point in footing up the scores. If when the scores are footed, 



90 PniLo.sopnY OF .Iri)(;ix(4. 

two specimeiLs are found to be equal, but one of them lias an 
uncancelled check, that bird should be placed below tlie other, 
for it shows an " out" which has not yet been subtracted. 

In the wings we like a clear, dark buff ; black to any positive 
extent should be cut •] to 1 point. White in the primaries or 
secondaries is a more serious defect than black, and sliould be 
cut from h to 3 points. 

In the Tail w^e look for a clear, rich bull" or chestnut, some- 
times shading into nearly or quite black ; the, black is not a 
serious fault, and should be cut lightly if at all, but if there is 
a decided show of this color cut .j to 2 points. For white in 
the tail, cut h to 3 points, in proportion to the amount. 

The ])lumage of the legs and feet should be a rich, clear 
buff, and if in such plumage an isolated white feather should 
occur we should regard it as strong evidence of some injury 
when the bird was in a pin-feathery state, and pass it uncut; 
but if the plumage were; of a pale, light buff, and a white or 
partially white feather sliould occur it would be presumptive 
evidence of a loss of color, and should be cut as a defect. For 
white in the shank or foot feathering a cut of l to 1 point will 
be sufficient. 

CUTS FOE COLOR. 

NECK. 

Uneven shade 2 to 1 

White in under-color .} to 1 

BACK. 

Uneven shade 2 to 1 

White in under-color 2 to 1 

BREASr. 

Uneven shade 2 to 1 

White in under-color 2 to 1 

BODY. 

Uneven shade ■ 2 to 1 

White in under-color 2 to 1 



Bi.ACK Cochins. 97 

WINGS. 

UneveD shade in coverts .1, to 1 

White in under-color i to 1 

Positive black .' ' .^ to 1 

White in primaries or secondaries i to :> 

TAIL. 

Black in tail A to 2 

White in tail i to P 

LEGS AND FEET. 

White in feather i to 1 



BLACK COCHINS. 

Wliile we are considering defects of color, it will not be out 
of place to allude to two matters of form in which this variety 
suffers more than others. Fimt, in the back, which has less 
convex lines and is usually defective to the extent of 1 point ; 
i^econd, too large and stiff plumage in the tail, owing to the 
introduction of Langshan blood, which causes a deserved cut 
of from \ to even 1^ points. We call attention to these matters 
in passing. 

The perfect color is a rich, lustrous metallic black, and the 
defects are usually those arising from a dead, rusty or brown 
black. They affect the score as much as the defects already 
spoken of in the Buff variety, \ to 1 point in the several 
sections being the usual cut for the departure from perfect 
color. In the wings occur slaty, sheeny spots that should be 
cut from * to 2 points, as they approach white, which dis- 
qualifies. For white in leg and toe feathering a cut of from h 
to 2 points should be made. White in any other part of the 
plumage disqualifies. As these black fowls are hardy, practical 
stock and pay in poultry and eggs we should allow this fact to 
temper our judgment in considering their special features. 
7 



98 Philosophy of Judcjing. 

CUTS FOR COLOR. 

NECK. 

Dull or rusty hue J to 1 

BACK. 

Dull or rusty hue ^ to 1 

BREAST. 

Dull or rusty hue 2 ^o 1 

BODY. 

Dull or rusty hue i to 1 

WINCS. 

Dull or rusty coverts 2 to 1 

Slaty spots 2 to 2 

TAIL. 

Dull or rusty hue 2 to 1 

LEGS AND FEET. 

White in plumage 2 to ^ 



WHITE COCHINS. 

In this variety we desire a pure white plumage, feathers 
other than white l)eing a disqualification. To interpret this 
disqualification strictly and literally would be to exclude 
nearly every male bird from competition, for we find a yellow 
shading to the plumage, yellow quills to the feathers, and not 
infrequently minute spatters of a dark color which could be 
successfully imitated by forcing any dark fluid through an 
atomizer upon the white ground color. Disqualifying for such 
defects is to be strongly condemned. A reasonable size or a 
prevalence of these dark spots should be had before disquali- 
fication is resorted to. Brown, red, absolute black feathers, or 
any feathers that show a distinctly and positively foreign type 
should, of course, disqualify. Disqualifications are summary 



White Cochins, 99 

and arbitrary means of shutting a bird out of com petition, 
and should never be resorted to unless they are positive and 
unequivocal in character. While it is best never to err, it is 
quite difficult not to, and it is far better err on the side of 
leniency than on the side of severity. For this yellow or straw 
shading, or canary color, in the neck, cut i to 1 point. For 
yellow quills in the wings and tail, cut from J to U points, 
considering them with the discoloration on the wing coverts. 
For cloudy dark color— minute specks above alluded to— in 
wings or tail, cut from ^ to 1 point. Unless the defect deserves 
a cut of a full U, the specimen should not be disqualified. No 
disqualification for color can be said to be positive in character 
that would not cause a cut of such an amount. For color of 
shanks, cut from * to 3 ])oints ; if more than that is required 
it will be necessary to disqualify. 

CUTS FOR COLOR. 

NECK. 

Yellow shading Mo 1 

BACK. 

Yellow shading i to 1 

BREAST. 

Yellow shading J to 1 

BODY. 

Yellow shading ^ to 1 

WINGS. 

Yellow shading of coverts and yellow quills Ho IJ 

Minute specks of dark ^o I 

TAIL. 

Yellow shading and yellow quills Ho 1^ 

Minute specks of dark • • . . Ho 1 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Color other tlian yellow of shanks and toes i to 3 



LANGS HANS. 

The Langshan, in respect to its origin and relationship, and 
concerning its judging, has caused more controversy than,, 
perhaps, any other breed admitted to the Standard. Were it 
within the scope of our purpose we could make an extremely 
interesting chapter upon this fowl, but as we are not concerned 
with its origin and are only interested in its proper judging, 
we are obliged to omit many facts interesting in themselves 
but not pertinent to our work. The Langshan presents a type 
of its own, a type which the Standard emphasizes, and which 
must be adhered to to keep the fowl from approaching the 
Cochin in its characteristics. There is a tendency among some 
breeders to make the Langshan each year more like a Black 
Cochin in form, and it is the clear duty of the judge to so 
apply the Standard that these Cochin-shaped birds will stand 
little chance of winning in the exhibition room. Were judges 
to ignore the two distinct types, and so ignore the require- 
ments of the Standard, the time would not be far distant when 
it would require a more than ordinarily good eye to tell one 
from the other. Such a state of things need never to occur. 
Black Cochins can and should be bred to the true Cochin type ; 
Langshans should be held to their ow-n type ; and judges 
should see that prizes are so awarded as to make it perilous for 
a Cochin breeder to exhibit a bird of the Langshan type, or a 
Langshan breeder to exhibit a bird of the Cochin type. That 
such has been done in the past we know. That crossing of 
the two varieties has been more or less resorted to we know. 
And that the judge now has an important and sometimes- 
difficult duty to perform we know. We hope, however, that 
this work will assist in keeping breeders, exhibitors and 



Langshans. 10] 

judges alive to the importance of breeding and showing Black 
Cochins that are Black Cochins, and Langshans that are 
Langshans, in form and type as well as in name. 

The Langshan, as compared with the Cochin, differs in the 
carriage of the body, which is more upright ; in the length 
and carriage of the tail, which is longer with longer and more 
pronounced sickles and hangers and is carried at a greater 
elevation ; in the length of the shank, which is longer in pro- 
portion to the size of the bird; in the length and character of 
the plumage, which is less profuse and of a closer and harder 
character ; in the color of the skin, which is white instead uf 
yellow; and in the color of the bottoms of the feet, which is 
pink or flesh colored instead of yellow, as well as in other 
minor points, wliich are more fully considered under the 
various sections. 

Langshans have been mercilessly disqualified for white in 
the plumage in the past, no other breed probably having 1)een 
disqualified in so wholesale a manner. The wording of the 
Standard, as it was interpreted by many, required this; we 
believe a more liberal interpretation should have been given. 
Under the revision in the Standard of Perfection white in the 
feathers of the shanks and toes will be excepted from the 
disqualification for white in the plumage. In this breed, as in 
all others, a disqualification ought to be clear and unmistak- 
able, and the white ought to be positive, absolute white to 
disqualify. Mere discoloration, a mere fading from the intense 
black, was never intended as a disqualification. If, for ex- 
ample, the tip of the feather of the wing were faded out, and 
disclosed a clear white centre, it could not be ignored, but to 
<lisqualify a bird for one such accidental spot, provided it was 
no larger than a shot, would be a real injustice. It would be 
a defect; it ought not to be regarded a disqualification. The 
defect could be cut, and the bird remain in competition. But 
if the spots were frequent, or if a single spot of clear white of 
reasonable size appeared — not in the feathers of shanks or 



102 Philosophy of Judging. 

toes — then the bird would have to be disqualified. The same 
leniency which is accorded to other black breeds should be 
accorded to the Langshan. While we are of the opinion that 
disqualifications ought to have no place in the Standard, or 
that they ought to be reduced to the lowest possible number 
and be as uniform as possible for all breeds, the judge 'must 
apply those found in the Standard, but should so apply them 
as to work justice and not injustice, as to encourage and not 
discourage the best specimens, as to elevate the breeding of 
high class fowls, not depress or destroy this pursuit. Reason 
should govern him, and all specimens should have the benefit 
of any doubt. If a judge hesitates whether to disqualify a 
specimen or not, if he is in doubt about the propriety of so 
doing, he will be wise not to disqualify. With these principles 
in mind let us look at the proper judging of this variety. 

The Comb. — The Langshan has a larger comb than the 
Cochin. If straight and evenly serrated it would pass uncut, 
even if so large as to be cut on a Cochin. If smaller than is 
usually obtained it would still pass uncut, for such combs add 
to the beauty of the breed and are difficult to obtain. A comb 
so large as to be cut 1 point in a Cochin would not require a 
cut of more than h point in a Langshan, there being about 
this difference in the natural development of the two breeds. 
For size the cuts should be from 5 to IJ points. Imported 
birds, as a rule, have larger combs than those bred in this 
country, probably due to our careful Standard and the greater 
care of our l>reeders. If the comb is not straight, if it has 
twists in it, it should be cut from h to 2 points. There should 
be not less than five nor more than six points to the comb, and 
for every point less than five and for every point more than 
six, cut 1 point. In the females, and especially in the adults, 
a tendency to thinness and folding in the comb exists, and 
should be cut from i to 3 points, the latter cut often being 
required. This tendency is increased by the requirement for 
heavy weights, for the more the weight is forced the greater 



Langshans. lOo 

the tendency to exaggerated defects of the comb. This is a 
matter of common observation, especially in all breeds 
naturally having rather large combs. With a reduction of 
weights the score of this breed will be raised about 2 points 
on the average, though the highest scoring birds will probably 
not be much affected. As it has been in the past, the birds 
that win are generally those which have not been cut on 
comb. 

The Head. — A slim, })eaked head sliould be cut from h to IJ 
l)oints in extreme cases. The color of the plumage is generally 
l)erfect. The eye must be dark brown or hazel, and if not, it 
receives a cut of from l to 1 point. For wattles exceedingly 
small, giving an effeminate appearance, cut 2 points. For very 
large and (;oarse wattles, cut from 5 to 1 point. 

The Neck. — The neck is longer than that of the Cochin, is 
not carried so far forward, and the pluinage is long and of a 
bright metallic black color. For failure of shape, as seen in 
the profile, cut from i to 1 point. The defects are chiefly those 
of plumage, and particularly in the under-color. If absolute 
white it is a disqualification, but for shades intermediate be- 
tween that and the dark slate, which is the proper color, cut 
from 2 to 2 points. If more than 2 points are required — which 
is 40 per cent, of the whole color— the bird should be disquali- 
fied. If the hackle has a reddish or bronze hue, cut from i to 2 
points; if the red or bronze becomes prominent and gives the 
color to the feather, disqualify. 

T]ie Back.— The back should neither be convex like that of 
a Cochin, nor concave like that of a Brahma, but should form 
a straight, inclined plane from the middle of the back to the 
tail. Any deviation from this, whether it be towards the 
convex lines of the Cochin — a not uncommon defect — or 
towards the concave sweep of the Brahma, should be cut from 
2 to 1 point. The saddle of the male is narrower than in a 
Cochin, and should it be broad like that of a Cochin, cut from 



104 I'hilo.sopiiy of Judgixo. 

A to 1 point.: The cuts for color come from a loss in shade and 
in brilhancy. As the color departs from a greenish or 
purplish lustrous black to a plain black, cut | point; to a dead 
black, cut 1 point; to a brownish black, cut H iDoints. For 
defective under-color, api)roaching white, cut from ^ to 1^ 
points. 

The BiraM. — The very ui)riglit carriage of the breast causes 
it to lose the pf-ominent a[»{)eai'ance demanded in a Brahma, 
and a breast that would l>e cut for lack of forward sweep in a 
Brahma 1 point would pass uncut in a Langshan. But while 
the breast is carried so much higher, and the forward sweep is 
impaired, the quarters must be rounded, and a wedge-sha[ted 
breast would require a severer cut than in a Brahma, for this 
verj' higher carriage makes it a greater defect; for such a 
l)reast cut from h to 1] points. For lack of prominence, due 
regard being had to the natural deveopnlent of the breed, cut 
2 point. Generally these two defects balance the breast 
defects in other Asiatics, at an average cut for both of 2 to 1 
point in ordinary exhibition specimens. 

The ]>odti.-^The Ixxly seems shorter than it really is, and it 
is sometimes accom])anied by undue fullness in front of the 
thighs, which with the fading of the color should be cut from 
2 to 1 point. The fluff in males is less abundant than in 
Cochins; its rear sweep is a})out the same but it does not so 
stand out about the tliighs. If too full, like that of a Cochin, 
cut h to 1 point. The female has a heavy fluff in comparison 
with the male, and for profuseness should not be cut, but if it 
drops down abruptly at the rear of the keel-bone, cut 1 point. 
The color of the l)ody is a clear black, not having the lustre of 
the uppt^r parts of the fowl, l)ut it sometimes becomes rusty or 
of a brownish shade, which should be cut .] to 1 point. 

llif Wings.— The Langshan has the largest wings in the 
Asiatic class. They should be cairied high to prevent a round- 
ness to the flat pai"t of the l)ack. For too low set wings, cut 1 



Laxgshaxs. 105 

poiut. For iiiiperfect folding, cut | to I2 points. For twisted 
feathers, cut 1 to 2 points. The chief defects, however, are a 
want of histre and Ught clouded spots. For dead black in the 
shoulder coverts, cut 1 point; for lustreless greater coverts, 
which form the har, 1 to 1-^ points; for clouded light spots in 
primaries and secondaries — not absolute white^i to 2 points. 

The Tail.— The high, well-developed tail with its long 
sickles and its profuse hangers, is the chief embellishment of 
this breed. A small. Cochin-like tail should be cut J to 2 
points; small, insuflicient sickles, o to 1 point; want of lustre 
in the plumage, 2 to H points; indications of white or light 
color in the under-fluff of the coverlets and the quill ends of 
the main tail-feathers, h to 1^ points; light spots in the web of 
the feathers, h to 1 point; straight sickles, i to 1 point; low- 
carriage, 2 to 1 point; squirrel tail, 2 to I5 points. As the 
breed naturallj' carries its tail higher, a cut of I2 is as severe 
for squirrel tail as a cut of 2 would be for a Brahma. The 
distance from the back of the head to the tail in a Langshan 
is not more tlian one-half as much as it is in a Brahma. All 
such things must be considered in giving a true score. For a 
pointed tail in the female a cut of from 2 to 1 point should be 
made. 

TJif Legx and Feet. — The shanks and lower thighs must be 
longer than in other Asiatics. The shank now must be well 
clothed and the outer toe must be actually feathered or the 
specimen is disqualified. For a short. Cochin-like leg, cut 1 
point. Middle toes well feathered, cut 1 point. For shank 
thinl}' feathered, cut h to 1 point. For a])proacli to knock- 
knees, cut J to I] y)oints. For white in shank or toe-feathering, 
cut 2 to 2 points. Yellow on shank or foot disqualifies. 



106 Philosophy of Judging. 

CUTS FOR FORM. 

Too large ^ to 1 2 

Twists Uo 2 

Too many or too few points 1 

Bad combs (females) 2 to o 

HEAD. 

Slim and peaked 5 to 1^ 

Small wattles . . 2 

Large, coarse wattles 2 to 1 

NECK. 

Bad shape 2 to 1 

BACK. 

Convex or concave i to 1 

Cochin-like saddle . 5 to 1 

BREAST. 

Wedge-shaped 2 to IJ 

Lack of prominence 5 

BODY. 

Fullness front of thighs 2 to 1 

Too abundant fluff Uo 1 

Fluff dropping down (femalej 1 

WINGS. 

Too low set 1 

Imperfect folding 2 to I5 

Twisted feathers 1 to 2 

TAIL. 

Too small * to 2 

Small sickles 5 to 1 

Straight sickles J to 1 

Low carriage 2 to 1 

Squirrel 2 to IJ 

Pointed tail (female) Hoi 



Langshans. 107 

legs and feet. 

Too short legs • 1 

Middle toes well feathered 1 

8hank thinly feathered 2 to 1 

Knock-knees I to l> 



CUTS FOR COL OB. 

HEAD. 

Light eye 5 to 1 

NECK. 

Light under-color 2 to 2 

Reddish or bronze tinge 2 to 2 

BACK. 

Plain black i 

Dead black 1 

Brown black li 

Light under-color i to li 

BREAST. 

Lack of lustre i to U 

Light under-color i to 2 

BODY. 

Rusty or brownish black 2 to 1 

WINC4S. 

Dead black shoulder coverts 1 

Lustreless greater coverts 1 to 1^ 

Clouded spots in flights 2 to 2 

TAIL. 

Want of lustre ito U 

Light under-color 2 to li 

Light spots in web J to 1 

LECtS AND FEET. 

White in leg and toe feathers 2 to 2 



Chaptkr VI. 



APPLICATIONS OF PRINCIPLES TO THE SCORING OP 

THE DIFFERENT BREEDS, 

CONTINUED. 



THE AMERICAN CLASS. 

THE American Class comprises the Plymouth Rocks, of 
which there are three Standard varieties, — the Single 
Combed Barred, the Pea-Combed Barred and the White ; the 
Wyandottes, of which there are also three varieties, — the 
Silver, the Golden and the White ; the Javas, of which there 
are three varieties, — the Black, the Mottled and the White ; 
the American Dominique^ and Jersey Blues. The class is a 
large one, numbering eleven varieties, and is characterized as 
preeminently a practical and useful- one. It is unnecessary to 
enter upon the details of judging all these varieties, for the 
principles can be fully illustrated by the consideration of a 
part of the whole number. For example, we omit the Ameri- 
can Dominiques because under the Plymouth Rock we con- 
sider all that need be said about the plumage, and under the 
Wyandotte we consider the principles applicable to judging 
a rose comb. It is true that the comb of the Wyandotte and 
that of the Dominique differs somewhat in character, but the 
general principles remain the same, and he who has mastered 



110 Philosophy of Judging. 

them can very easily make the special applications necessary 
to be made to this variety. For like reasons we omit the 
Javas and the Jersey Blue. And further, it may be here said 
that in the breeds to be hereafter considered the questions 
that might arise in reference to omitted breeds will be fully 
(considered. It is our purpose to illustrate principles rather 
than to furnish scores for specific breeds, so that one may 
become an intelligent judge of all breeds. 

Inasmuch as the several varieties of a given breed are 
required to have the same form, we shall discuss first the form 
and then under the specific varieties the co:or, as was done in 
the case of the Cochins. 

PLYMOUTH ROCKS. 

As the Plj-mouth Rock was the earliest of the distinctively 
American breeds, and as it occupies the first place in the 
Standard of Perfection, we first select it for consideration. 
ITpon the question of its relative merits we need not enter. 
That it is a good, useful and practical fowl, and that it is a 
widely popular one, needs no argument to establish. Its pri- 
ority in time, alone, would entitle it to priority of considera- 
tion. 

The Plymouth Rock in size takes a middle position between 
the Asiatics and the smaller breeds like Leghorns and Ham- 
burgs. It has neither a Cochin nor a Brahma shape, though 
it approaches more nearly the latter than the former, as the 
measurements which w^e have given clearly indicate. Yet 
there are small, specific difiereuces which give it a type of its 
own. It is medium in the length of its joints, but tolerably 
deep in the keel, which when exposed to view will be found 
to be oval in shape, the white meat continuing well back upon 
the same and giving a roundness to the sides of the body. In 
tlie past, illustrations of this breed have given a larger forward 
sweep to the breast than was natural, and, as we think, less 



Plymouth Rocks. Ill 

thickness in front of the thighs. Iti our illustration we have 
attempted to show the breed as it is, when viewed at an alti- 
tude of about three and one-half feet from the ground, the 
ordinary point of view when seen in the exhibition room. 
The illustration will be of great aid in arriving at a true under- 
standing of the correct Plymoutli Rock form. 

The Comb.— -In the single combed varieties, the comb is of 
medium size, whether compared with the combs of other 
single combed varieties or compared with the size of the fowl. 
It should have not less than five nor more than six serra- 
tions — either number to be considered perfect ; the serrations 
should be rather more than medium in depth ; the comb 
should be straight, well balanced upon the head, and with a 
base sufficiently thick to cause it to stand firmly. For each 
point less than five and more than six, cut 1 point. For a 
twist over the beak, cut from i to 2 points. Foi- turning to 
one side or curling from underneath in the rear part, cut h to 
H points. For each side sprig cut 1 point. In the pea- 
combed variety the comb, to be perfect, should be as described 
for a Brahma, but as the Brahmas have had many years in 
which to perfect their combs and the Plymouth Rocks but few, 
it would be unreasonable to expect as perfect combs upon the 
latter as upon the former. While perfection is perfection, yet 
a judge would be excusable for greater leniency in cutting the 
comb of the Plymouth Rock than of the Brahma. While we 
give specific cuts, as large as those given for a Brahma, the 
judge should not forget nature and the present development 
of the breed. If the central division becomes folded or 
serpentine, cut ] point ; if the comb be turned to either side, 
so as to cause all three sections to become crooked, cut from lA 
to 3 points. If the comb be excessively large and coarse, cut 
from J to Ij points. If loose and shaky upon the head, cut 
from ^ to 1^^ points. A lopped comb, whether single or pea, 
disqualifies. 



112 Philosophy of Judging. 

The Head. — If the skull be narrow and the head slim, cut 1 
point. For a long and nearly straight beak, cut 1 point. In 
single combed variety, if the wattles are short and wrinkled and 
"are not pendulous, cut | to 2^ points; it they are excessively 
large and coarse, A to Ih points. In pea-combed variety, if the 
wattles in the male are sliorter than the ear-lobes, cut from J 
to 3 points, the latter when they are altogether wanting. 

The Neck. — The neck should be neither short and thick nor 
long and cranisli, but should be of good length, with a nice, 
sweeping arch, — not so pronounced in the curve as the Wyan- 
dotte, — and a hackle that reaches well to the shoulder and 
completely covers the cape, but does. not extend much beyond 
that. If the neck is too long or too short, cut h point; if the 
hackle is so scanty as to cause the neck to look very slim, cut 
h to 1 point; is the hackle is too long and flowing, cut o point ; 
if the head is carried forward so as to destroy the arch of the 
neck, cut 1 point. 

The Back. — If the l)ack deviates from our outline to that of 
what is known as a roached back, cut o to 2 points. If the 
back be narrow and the saddle be pinched, cut 1 to 1^ points. 
In the females the rear part of the back drops slightly as its 
plumage reaches the tail, giving a slight indication of a cushion. 
If the back is full, even if it could not be said to be cushioned, 
it should not be cut, but if nearly concave in the rear part it 
should be cut I to 1 point. Cape, oval from side to side, cut j 
to 1 point. 

The Breast. — A breast, which in its forward sweep and in 
the roundness and prominence of its quarters will till our 
illustration, must be considered perfect in form. As it falls 
away from this, defects arise. For flatness in front, cut from 
}y to 1 point; for failure in the oval sweep of the quarters, pro- 
ducing a wedge shaped breast when viewed in front, cut J to 1 
point. In tlie females, owing to the greater fidlness of the 
fluff", the breast appears smaller than it really is, and, unless 



Plymouth Kocks. 113 

this fact is borne in mind, it will be likely to be eut too 
severely. If the forward curve and the fullness of the quarter 
are defective, cut from l to \h points for the combined defects. 

The Body. —The body should be compact, round enough at 
the sides to match the "bieast, and deep enough in the keel to 
till the outline we have given. If the keel be too high, so as 
to give too little depth of body, cut 1 point. If the fluff be so 
abundant as to stand out about the thighs and destroy the 
profile of the lower tliigh and hock, cut 1 point; if -so thin and 
sparse as to give the thigh a long, thin appearance, cut 1 point. 
In the females the fluff is much more abundant than in the 
males, and if so abundant as to cause a cut of 1 point in a male 
it w^ould be passed as perfect in the female. Little beyond the 
hock joint remains in profile on account of the abundance of 
the fluff'. A pinched, thin fluff', that discloses a long thigh, 
should be cut 1 point; such a fluff generally accompanies- a 
thin, flat body, which should be cut 1 point additional. The 
more common fault, however, is a dropping down of the abdo- 
men, causing the rear line of the bird to fall much below the 
keel ; this should be cut 1 point. 

Tlie Wings.— U the wing be set on so low down as to cause 
the cape to be oval, cut 1 point; for bad folding of the pri- 
maries, J to 2 points, the latter when folded outside the 
secondaries ; twisted feathers, J to 2 points. 

The Tail— The tail of the male is not small, as it has been 
described in the past, such description causing the forcible 
premature moulting of the sickles, but it is really of medium 
size with full sickles. Unless it is so full and high as to stand 
above the lower line of the wattles, it should not be cut for 
over size. Its four sickles should extend beyond the tail 
proper, the lesser ones fully to the tip of the main tail feath- 
ers, and the coverts reach well up to these coverlets, while 
the lesser coverts should be abundant enough to cause' the 
back to be nearly as wide at the rear of the shell-bone as at 



114 PlIUiOSOIMIY OF JuDGIN(i. 

the back of the cape. The back should digJitli^ taper to the 
tail. Too great a width— one wider at rear than at cape — cer- 
tainly approaches the fullness and looseness of plumage that 
characterizes the Cochin and is undesirable, but these tail em- 
bellishments, that are too often considered in the saddle, must 
be abundant enough to prevent a drop in front of the tail. A 
narrow, pinched tail should be cut from .j to 2 poiiits; straight 
sickles, 2 to 1 point; approach to squirrel, ^ to 1^; carried in a 
drooping position, ] to 1.]. In the females the carriage of the 
tail is less upright than in the male. When carried too up- 
rightly, cutting into ttie cushion, it should sutler .} to 1 point; 
if pointed like a Cochin's, cut 1 point. 

I'he Legs and Feet. — Tlie legs should be of medium length, 
the lower tliigh of the male and the hock joint of the female 
appearing in prolile. The thighs should be stout in com- 
parison to the weight, the shanks medium long with good 
sized bone, but free from all stiltiness ; if the shanks are short 
and dwarfish, or if they are long and slender, cut 2 to 1 point. 
The toes should be straight and look strong. If any be 
crooked, cut from .] to I point each that are so deformed. 

CUTS FOR FORM. 

COMB. 

Too few or too many points (each) 1 

Twist 1 to 2 

Turning at rear 2 to 1 2 

Each side sprig 1 

Central division crooked (pea) 1 

All divisions crooked (pea) 1^ to 

Excessively large 2 to 1 j 

Loose and shaky j to 1 2 

HEAD, 

Narrow skull 1 

Long, straight beak 1 

Short wattles (single combed) j to 2^ 



Plymouth Rocks. 115 

Large, coarse wattles (single combed) J to U 

Short wattles (pea-combed) ^ to 8 

NECK. 

Too long J 

Too short i 

Scanty hackle Ho 1 

Too long hackle 2 

Lack of arch 1 

BACK. 

Roached * to 2 

Narrow i to IJ 

Nearly concave (female) 2 to 1 

Oval cape J to i 

BREAST. 

Flat in front i to- 1 

Wedge-shaped J to 1 

Defective curve and quarters (female) i to 1^ 

BODY. 

Not deep enough 1 

Too abundant fluff 1 

Too spare flufi 1 

Pinched fluff (female) 1 

Flat body 1 

Dropping down behind 1 

WINGS. 

Too low set 1 

Primaries badly folded I to 2 

Twisted feathers •• Ho 2 

TAIL. 

Narrow and pinched ^ to 2 

Straight sickles 5 to 1 

Squirrel carriage Ho 1^^ 

Drooping carriage i to 1^ 



116 Philosophy of Judging. 

Too upright (female) 5 to 1 

Pointed Cochin-like 1 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Too short shanks 5 to 1 

Too long shanks i to 1 

Crooked toes (each) i to 1 



BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCKS. 

Although the single and pea-combed varieties compete 
separately, yet as their color characteristics are the same, for 
convenience, we consider them together. Our remarks upon 
color will apply to all Dominique or, as our English cousins 
call it, cuckoo-colored plumage. 

Over the question of what is the true Plymouth Rock color 
there has been much controversy, yet there is really a sub- 
stantial agreement among the controversialists. The trouble 
has been that the question has been approached from entirely 
different points of view. One side has described the feather 
when removed from the plumage, the other the plumage as it 
appears in the mass. The constituents of the Plymouth Rock 
color are simply black and white. These two colors are laid in 
parallel bars, one alternating with the other, and according to 
the relative proportions of the two colors the feathers have 
been classified as light, medium and dark. If the black bars 
be broader than the white the feather becomes dark, while if 
the white bars be the wider the effect upon the feather is to 
make it light in shade. But when these feathers are placed 
in a mass, as they appear upon the fowl, black and white dis- 
appear and the eye notes a bluish tinged plumage, apparently 
made up from two shades of blue. The Standard has at- 
tempted to describe both the feather and its appearance. 
Whatever may be argued as to the correct description of a 



Barred Plymouth Rocks. 117 

Standard — whether the feather or the effect upon the eye 
should be selected— it is obvious that the beaut.v of the speci- 
men depends upon the effect of the plumage upon the eye, 
and it is this effect that the judge must consider when scoring 
the bird. There is a vast difference between the appearance 
of a bird that has a phimage that loolvs.as if it were of a bluish 
gray barred witli a dark or slaty blue, and one that seems to 
have a grayish white plumage barred with clear black, yet the 
difference in the feathers when plucked and separately exam- 
ined will be comparatively slight and will depend upon the 
relative amount of the two colors that are used in the trans- 
verse bars. In s{)eaking of the color, even when speaking of 
feathers, we shall use terms that apply to the appearance of 
the feather when in its proper place upon the bird. This can 
make no confusion if properly understood at the start, while it 
would be well nigh impossible to distinguish in description 
between individual feathers, even between those that produce 
a lightish colored bird and those that produce a dark, smutty, 
unattractive looking one. 

However described, judges and breeders have come to a 
general understanding of the true Plymouth Rock color, 
although there has been a mistake in the mind of some as to 
the true color for an exhibition male. Cocks and cockerels 
that have had a plumage so dark as to cause the bars to look' 
positively black, have been— erroneously— preferred to birds 
whose plumage seemed to be composed of a clear bluish gray, 
barred with bars the color of oxydized silver. But these 
darker birds are really less beautiful than those of a lighter 
shade, and as they are progenitors of dark, smutty, and even 
black females, they ought no longer be encouraged in the show 
room ; from that as from the breeder's yard they should be 
banished as defective in plumage, giving place to the lighter, 
better and more beautiful bird. Such birds are as much 
extremes in color as are the nearly white and barless birds so 
often seen. 



118 Philosophy of Judging. 

The perfection of a transversely barred plumage lies not 
only in the two colors, but in the arrangement of the bars 
relative to each other. These bars may so come as to give a 
broken, zig-zag pattern, almost making the bird look speckled 
in extreme cases, or they may so lie as to produce nearly par- 
allel lines — or zebra-like stripes — across the breast and over 
the body. These zebra stripes are a great ornament — -the 
finishing touch to the Plymouth Rock plumage. In time past 
too little attention has been paid to this great excellence; in 
the future it is destined to come into great prominence. An 
examination of a large number of specimens lias convinced us 
that this excellence is seldom to be found except in connection 
with feathers having from five to six bars, and the use of 
nearly barless males in order to produce females of a light 
shade results in a lessening of the number of bars and conse- 
quently of the chance of obtaining these zebra stripes, and is, 
therefore, to be condemned. The only effectual way to con- 
demn it is by regarding the plumage that fails in these stripes 
as defective and to cut for the defect. These bars are formed, 
like the concentric rings about the cone of the larch, by the 
proper overlapping of the parts. As the feathers lap over each 
other the first l)ar of the upper feather comes on a line with 
the second bar of the feather beneath, and so, as the feathers 
lie side by side, the lines extend parallel with each other, and 
the beauty of the specimen is greatly heightened. 

To recapitulate, we say that the judge is no more concerned 
with a single feather when removed from the fowl — except in 
cases of disqualification— than a reader has with a clause in a 
sentence disseyered from its proper connection; that in judg- 
ing Plymouth Rock color he must consider the effect upon the 
eye, and describing that effect he says that the perfect color 
is bluish gray crossed with transverse bars of slaty blue ; that 
zebra stripes are very desirable and must be added as a quality 
of the perfect plumage ; and that, as ttiese stripes are pro- 
duced by five or six bars, a plumage with a less number of 



Barked Plymouth Rock^. 11^> 

bars is not perfect; that bars which look on the fowl black— 
although the perfect bar when examined alone, may be 
black— are extremes in color, and extremes are not desirable. 
In a word, the judge of Plymouth Hock plumage deals with 
things as they appear to the eye, an<l in describing them in 
this work we shall speak of appearances of the feathers upon 
the fowl, not of their appearance when examined separately 
and apart. Bearing these distinctions in mind, we examine 
the several sections. 

The Head.— For an eye other than bay in color, cut from h 
to 1 point. Pale, faulty color in the ear-lobes— not enamelled 
surface color, which disqualifies— cut from .] to U points. 

The i\VcA-.— While an even shade throughout the plumage is 
desirable, it is one thing to desire it and quite another and 
different thing to get it. The neck, as a matter of fact, owing 
to the wider light bars upon the feathers, is generally lighter 
in shade than the breast. For white in the under-Huft; cut 4^ 
to 1 point. For a fading from the desired bluish gray ])arred 
with dark blue— remejiiber we opeak of appearances— cut 
from I to II points. Many specimens have solid black feathers 
in the hackle, and should be cut for each feather A point. 
Splashes of black or white— except in wings mid tail— dis- 
qualify, and this defect is more })revalent in the neck than 
elsewhere. A single black or white feather does not make a 
splash, but if three solid black feathers come together they 
should be interpreted as a splash and the specimen be dis- 
quahlied; if the three were partially black it would not 
amount to a disqualilication. Paitially black feathers should 
not be cut a half point if found. Prime colored specimens are 
very liable to have solid black feathers in their plumage. 
AVlien exhibited by the knowing ones they are not there, but 
when shown by the novice they are cut. It is really a serious 
(piestion whether such feathers as a judge knows are natural 
to a prime si)ecimen should be cut at all. As it is, the novice 



120 Philosophy of JuixiiNt;. 

generally loses en the score ])ecause of his ignorance. It 
seems unjust for one to suffer and perhaps lose a prize when 
another who is less scrupulous about removing a feather wins. 
The law has a maxim that \vhat can be rendered certain is 
certain, and exhibitors have adapted this to their needs Ijy 
saying that an exhibition bird is one that can be so made by 
a little reasonable dressing up — as one washes and shaves and 
puts on his best suit to attend church, or another that grooms 
and curries and fits his horse to win a race. If fowls must be 
shown in their natural condition, then to pluck feathers is 
dishonorable; if all agree that the [)lucking of an isolated 
feather here and there is to be ex[>ected, the dishonor ceases. 
But on the whole it would be better to leave them in and in- 
struct the judsre to either not cut for such or to be very lenient 
in his cuts. 

Tlie Back: — The Standard demands an even shade through- 
out the plumage, but in the past we have observed a pi-edispo- 
sition to black — as they appear in the mass — bars upon the 
back, in all specimens whose hackle was dark enough to pass 
uncut. We are of the opinion that we must allow an a])- 
parently lighter shade in the hackle if we hope to secure backs 
free from these black bars. The acknowdedged fact that males 
with such bars in any part of tlie plumage breed very dark 
progeny, ought to render us the more willing to accept the 
lighter necks, aad at the same time cause it to cut more 
severely for the black bars. For this defect we think a cut of 
2 to 1 point deserved. For white in the under-color, void of 
barring, cut j to I2 points. For reasons already pointed out 
we have said that plumage which has less than tive bars 
ought to be regarded defective, and we believe that in males 
seven bars are desirable. Any section in which the plumage 
has less than five bars, we think ought to be cut at least 1 
point. Indistinct l)arring in the female should be cut J to 1 
point. The downward slope from cape to cushion is apt to 
appear darker than the balance of the plumage. This often is 



Barred Plymouth Rocks. 121. 

due to the lack of full growth of the feathers, the dark bars of 
the feather over-lapping almost joining those of the feather 
over-lapped, causing a blotchy appearance or the appearance 
of too wide dark bars; it may also be due from a black or 
smutty condition of the under-color. If it proceeds from the 
former cause the cut should be very light; if from the latter, 
a cut of from 1 to 1* points would be just; for in the former 
case the defect is but temporary and w ill disappear with the 
growth of the plumage, while in the latter it is permanent. 
By lifting the plumase it will be not dithcult to determine the 
real cause. 

The Bremt. — The plumage of the breast should be a soft 
bluish gray to the skin, barred with dark slaty blue bars, and 
as the color fades from this desired appearance, a cut of from 
i to 1 point should be made. The zebra stripes, caused by the 
dark bars, are not as distinct in front as could be desired, but 
the lower part of the breast should have this finish, and if it 
is lacking a cut of 1 point will not be amiss. The females are 
darker in shade, and their appearance is more accurately de- 
scribed as bluish gray barred with blue black. They, as a 
rule, are better lined, and if the breast is broken up in these 
lines a cut of ^ to i point should be made for the defect. Bars 
appearing positively black, cut from | to 1 point. 

The Body. — If the color be so light as to be white in the 
under-color, cut 1 point ; if the zebra lines are not well de- 
veloped, cut I to 1 point ; if the fluff' is black or too light to be 
called dark bluish gray, cut 1 point. In the females, loss of 
the zebra lines, cut 1 point; color so light as to lose the clear, 
blue shade, i to l^ points; bars that appear positive black in 
color, I to H points. Extremes in color should be cut 
severely, while slight devisftions from the true color can be cut 
more leniently. 

The Wings. — In the males the wings are disposed to run to 
the light extreme, while in the females they have the opposite 



11^2 Philosophy of Judging. 

tendency, and run to the dark extreme. White appearing in 
the primaries of the male should be cut l to 2 points; wing 
coverts that lose their clearly defined blue and become sheeny, 
5 to 1 point; smutty bars in the secondaries, I to 1 point. In 
the females the wing defects are generally found in the pri- 
maries and secondaries, which are smutty and nearly black, 
the light bars being wanting. While all Plymouth Rock wings 
would be more accurately described as marbled than as barred, 
and if either, and of the true color, should be passed as perfect, 
yet we give our preference to a barred wing, and in case of 
ties would place such a ])ird ahead of one having marbled 
flights, other things being equal. Dark, smutty primaries and 
secondaries should be cut 5 to 2 points, and when both l)lack 
and white appear, in objectionable combination, a cut of 1.] to 
'.] points should be made. 

The Tail. — For white in the sickles, cut 2 to 2 })oints; white 
in tail proper, i to 1 point; fading of color and failure in the 
regular barring of the tail, cut .] to 2.2 points. In the female 
the defect is generally a clouded and black color. Indistinct 
marbling or barrino- of the tail, cut i to 1 point; when white 
is added to the foregoing defects, cut H to H points. Positive 
black bars in the upper tail and coverts, cut 1 point. 

The Legs and Feet. — The coloi- of the plumage of the thighs 
should match that of the body, and the zebra stripes should 
be preserved. For loss of these features in the plumage, cut ^ 
to 1 point. The shanks and feet should be yellow; if the 
scales are black, cut .] to 1^ points; dusky or brown shading, 
cut 2 to I2 points. 

CUTS FOB COLOR. 

HEAD. 

Eye other than bay 2 to 1 

Fault V color in ear-lobe i to 1^1 



Barred Plymouth Eocks. 123 

NECK, 

White in uDder-fluflf" 2 to 1 

Faded color 5 to 1^ 

Black feathers (each) i 

BACK. 

Black bars * to 1 

White imbarred under-color 2 to IJ 

Less than five bars 1 

Indistinct barring (female) i to 1 

Smutty back (female) 1 to li 

BREAST. 

Faded color ^ to 1 

Lack of zebra stripes 1 

Lack of zebra lines (female) 2 to 1 

Black bars * to 1 

BODY. 

White under-color 1 

Lack of zebra stripes 2 to 1 

Fluff black or too light 1 

Loss of zebra lines (female) 1 

Too light color (female) 2 to I2 

Black bars 2 to IJ 

WINGS. 

White in primaries 2 to 2 

Sheeny coverts 2 to 1 

Smutty bars in secondaries 2 to 1 

Smutty primaries and secondaries (female) : i to 2 

Black and white primaries and secondaries (female). . li to o 

TAIL. 

White in sickles 2 to 2 

White in tail proper 2 to 1 

Faded tail 2 to 2J 

Indistinct barring (female) 2 to 1 



124 Philosophy of Judging. 

Indistinct barring and white Utoo 

Black bars in upper tail and coverts 1 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Defective thigh plumage 2 to 1 

Black scales to shanks 4 to li 

Dusky or brown shading to shanks JtolJ 



WHITE PLYMOUTH EOCKs. 

We have spoken of the White Plymouth Rock as one 
variety, and that a variety with a single comb; but we are not 
ignorant of the fact that some claim that the American Poultry 
Association by accepting Plymouth Rocks with pea-combs and 
also accepting the White Plymouth Rock with such combs as 
the Barred variety has, accepted both single and pea-combed 
White Plymouth Rocks. If such be a fair interpretation of 
the action of the American Poultry Association, as some hold, 
we have four instead of three varieties of Plymouth Rocks. 
If this be so, it will not require the addition or the blotting of 
a line of our work, for we have already discussed the judging 
of both single and pea-combed Plymouth Rocks for form, and 
the color of white birds can be considered together, as the 
scoring would be upon exactly the same principles. It is un- 
necessary for us to decide this matter, and we leave it to those 
who are specially interested to interpret the action of the 
American Poultry Association upon this point. 

While the plumage of the White Plymouth Rocks is de- 
scribed as pure white throughout, we find many of the 
chickens when first hatched having the appearance of having 
been dipped in a weak solution of indigo, or of having crawled 
through a sooty stove pipe. This dark down sometimes re- 
mains in a darkish under-color, and the birds possessing it are 
often the whitest of the flock in surface color, just as is the 



White Plymouth Rocks. 125 

case with dark under-colored Light Brahmas. Such an under- 
color, especially if confined to the under-flutf, ought not to be 
regarded as defective. An under-color which is pure white is, 
vi course, perfect. 

The color defects of a White Plymouth Rock will be found 
in yellow quills and a yellow shading to the plumage, often a 
clear canary color on certain sections. For any departure 
from the pure white the proper percentage must be cut, and 
wiien all the sections are properly considered these self-colored 
birds will be found to have lost nearly or quite as much in 
"outs" as their barred cousins. The main outs will be found 
in the sections most exposed to the sun, i. e. the neck, back, 
wings and tail, while the breast and body will sutler but little 
in color, though generally more defective in form. The cuts 
for color in necks will range from to U ; in backs, h to I2 ; 
in breast, to I ; in body, to 1 ; in wings, i to 2-^ ; in tail, 
to 1|. The difference between pure white and the yellow- 
tinged w^hite which we often see may be compared to that 
between a cut of cloth that has been bleached and one that is 
unbleached. Canary color through the neck should be cut 
from i to 2 ])oints; canary color in the back, cut from h to 2 
points; canary color in the tail, if the web be tinged through, 
cut from i to 1^ points, and if the quills also be yellow, | to 2 
points; for a yellowish feather in the wing, | point should be 
cut, and this cut may be increased to 3 points if the quills arc 
all yellow tinged even if the web remains white. If the quills 
are white there is a chance that the webs will w^hiten out; the 
defect may be due to over-fatness, and should, therefore, be 
cut more lightly. But if the quills are yellow the defect in 
the web is likely to be permanent, and the defect demands a 
severer cut. Temporary defects do not demand so severe 
punishment as permanent ones. Our table will give the 
necessary details. 



126 Philosophy of Judging. 

CUTS FOR COLOR. 

NECK. 

Yellow shading i to 2 

BACK. 

Yellow shading 2 to 2 

BREAST. 

Yellow shading J to 1 

BODY. 

Yellow shading ^. i to 1 

WINCiS. 

Yellow feather 2 

Yellow shading and quills J to 8 

TAIL. 

Yellow in webs i to I2 

Webs and quills yellow ^ to 2 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Color other than yellow, faded from right shade ... i to '> 




WYANDOTTES. 

The three varieties of Wyandottes, Silver, Golden and 
White, are required by the Standard to be of one shape, and 
that the shape of the oiiginal variety, the one first admitted 
to the Standard. For some time to come the Golden variety 
will be more likely to be cut for form than either the Silver or 
White, for while many White Wyandottes are absolutely pure 
in blood, being "sports" from the Silver variety, all the 
Golden Wyandottes are acknowledged to be the result of 
crosses, and consequently present not only a variance in form 
when compared with the Silver but also when compared with 
each other. This is a matter that will be overcome by careful 
breeding, and the three varieties will be brought to substantial 
unity of form. We shall, therefore, consider them as of the 
same form, the correct outline being given in our illustration. 

The Comb. — In this breed the comb, though described as a 
rose, has characteristics that separate it from other rose combs. 
The comb of the Hamburg is regarded as the typical rose 
comb, and is, therefore, the one with which other rose combs 
are naturally compared. The Wyandotte comb differs from 
the Hamburg in being rather smaller, in having a less pro- 
nounced spike which has a downward instead of an upward 
tendency, and in having an oval sweep on top, like the line of 
the crown of the head instead of being flat. Our illustration 
brings out these characteristics. A comb which drops down 
flat upon the neck back of the crown of the head, or that 
turns up at the rear, instead of preserving the sweep of the 
skull, must be regarded as faulty and be cut 1 point. There is 
in some strains a tendency to produce large overgrown combs, 
which demand a cut for size of from 5 to 3 points. Some are 
hollow in front, as if a portion of the comb had been cut out, 



128 Philosophy of Judging. 

and should be cut from i to 2 points. The combs liave many 
faults and usually are cut for all their defects from i to 2 
points, while in exceptional cases they are cut from 2^ to 4 
points on a value of 8 points, or 50 per cent.; by our Scale such 
a cut would, of course, be 5 points. A comb that is so large 
and fleshy as to fall over to one side disqualifies the specimen. 

llic Neck. — The neck of a Wyandotte is shorter and with a 
more pronounced arch than that of a Plymouth Rock; the 
arch is carried farther backward and meets the head at a more 
acute angle ; the i)lumage is more curved, and by reason of the 
shortness of the neck, looks more abundant; the whole neck 
having a larger and thicker appearance than that of the 
Plymouth Rock. While we, therefore, expect a short neck, 
we do not expect one so short as to make the bird look 
dumpish, and a neck which is too short, as well as one having 
the opposite defect, should be cut ^ point. A scanty hackle 
should be cut from j to 1 point. The loss of arch should be 
cut from I to 1 point. 

The Back. — Compared with the length of the bird, the back 
is medium ; compared with that of a Plymouth Rock it is 
short. The longer plumage adds to this effect, and makes the 
bird look rather blocky. A greater fullness of saddle is found. 
The back looks broad and fiat across the cape, the downward 
slope is short, and the saddle rises with a concave sweep to the 
the tail. The defects for form are not many, and the cuts will 
vary from i to 1 point, as a rule, though in exceptional cases 
they may be more. For a pinched saddle, causing a narrow 
back, cut from J to IJ; for a straight back, J to 1^; for a 
roached back, U to 2. Narrow^ backs are a quite common de- 
fect, but roached backs are rare. In the females the most 
common fault is a want of fullness to the cushion, demanding a 
cut of from h to 1 point. 

The Breast. — In many breeds we find the description of breast 
in the same or very similar terms. The breasts differ some- 



Wyaxdo'ites. 129 

what, luit laiiiiuiige is im-apahle of expressing the ditierences. 
Bat when hmguage tails, art intervenes, and our ilhistrations 
will do wliat Standard descriptions are unahlc to do. By 
]-(>ason of the siiortness of the Wyandotte's h^gs, and the gen- 
<'ral shortness throughout its whole structure, its breast has a 
broad, full look. We demand the fullness of our illustration, 
and permit nature to exceed it if she can. The defects for 
form generally amount to from .] to 1 ] points in males, and i 
to 1 in females. If flat in front or wedged shaped, or lacking 
in the fullness of the quarters, it shonld be cut for either de- 
feet from 2 to I2 points. 

Tlw B<xh/. — If the body have reasonably well rounded sides 
and deep keel, with a corresponding fullness of flufl', it should 
l>ass as perfect. The cuts for body in males will probably run 
not far from .] to 1 point, and in females about the same 
amount. Lack of depth, flatness of sides, too spare or too 
abundant flufl' and dropping down behind would each be cut 
from .] to 1 point; a slight overfuUness of the fluff, not indica- 
tive of weakness, would pass uncut. 

TJic Whigs. — The wings, serving both as a means of flight 
and as a shield to a large portion of the body, and especially 
to that portion which contains the vital organs, are large, and 
are so represented in our illustrations. The fronts of the bows 
extend forward flush with the breast, its plumage only reach- 
ing beyond them. The Standard des(;ription of medium size, 
interpreted according to natural development, means that the 
l)erfect wing must be of medium size when compared with all 
Wyandotte wings, for it is folly to say that it is not large when 
compared with the wings of the breeds in the Asiatic and 
American classes. It covers a relatively larger surface upon 
the sides of the fowd than does the wing of a Brahma upon its 
sides. A very large or very small wing would be defective, 
but its size is seldom a matter for consideration, the carriage 
and the folding being the main considerations in judging tte 



130 Philosoi'hy ok .Tri)(;ix(;. 

form. The wings should be carried high enough to cause a 
flat cape across the back, and one that is drooping is defective 
and should be cut 1 point. For imperfect folding, cut from 
^ to 2 points, the latter amount when the defect called a 
"slipped wing" is present. By this term is meant a wing in 
M'hicli the primaries are folded outside of tlie secondaries. 

The Tail. — Our illustration of the tail is made to show the 
■development to be expected at the show season. Later in the 
season the tails are larger, and in cocks during their secon<l 
year the sickles will be found hanging in longer points and in 
a much more curved form. Such development should not be 
cut. Straight sickles, however, should be cut 1 point. If the 
whole tail be spiked or pinched, cut from \ to 2 points. The 
top of a well proportioned tail should reach a line just below 
the wattles, and from that to two inches below the wattles 
would be high enough to pass uncut. A much greater or less 
development would be a defect and deserve punishment ac- 
cording to the degree of the defect. In the female we look 
for a well developed and well spread tail, and one that is 
pinched and narrow should be cut 1 point. 

The Legs and Feet. — The thighs are short and the shanks are 
rather short. The cuts for thighs will almost invariably be 
confined to the plumage, while length of shank in excess of 
our illustration and fineness of bone may cause a cut of ^ to 1 
point. For each crooked toe, cut 1 point. 



(JUTS FOR FORM. 

COMB. 

Spike dropping upon neck 1 

Spike turning up 1 

Overgrown i to •^> 

Hollow in front i to 2 



AVyaxdottes. 1'>1 

NECK. 

Too short 2 

Too long 

Too short hackle ^ *^ ^^ 

Loss of arch ^ ^^ ^ 

BACK. 

Too narrow 5 to li 

Straight itol.^ 

Roached h to 2 

Faulty cushion (female) 2t*'> • 

BREAST. 

Flat in front 2 to 1 i 

Wedge-shaped 2 to I2 

Failure in quarters H<^ 1 2 

BODY. 

Lack of depth ^ H^ 1 

Flatness of sides 2 to 1 

Too spare Hufi" ^ ^^ ^ 

Too abundant flufi' Ho 1 

Dropping down V)ehind 2 to 1 

WINGS. 

Drooping 

Imperfect folding ^ to l 

Straight sickles 

Spiked or pinched • • • 

Pinched (female) ^ 

LEGS AND FEET. 

Too long shanks 2 to 1 

Orooked toes (each) "^ 



TAIL. 

1 

Uo 2 



SILA^ E H W Y AXDOTTES. 

The Silver AVyandotte, as it must henceforth be called, was 
for some time the only Wyandotte, and long before it bore 
that name it masqueraded its many excellences under various 
other designations. Its own origin has been a matter of 
dispute and upon that question, although holding very decided 
opinions, we do not care to enter. But that it is the progenitor 
of the other two varieties is not questioned. The White as a 
direct "sport" or, as is probable in some cases, the result of 
crossing, and the (lolden as a cross in which the Silver 
Wyandotte was used, must yield the precedence, in time at 
least, to the Silver variety. Fe\^, if any, varieties require 
more care in judging or present more perplexing questions for 
solution. The form is easily disposed of, but when the color 
is reached, this is the work, this the labor. A man who can 
correctly judge Silver Wyandottes has laid a good foundation 
for becoming a first-class "all round " poultry judge. 

The Neck. — In our Decimal Scale the neck has ten points 
allotted to it, and in its sub-division five of these are given for 
color. This amount in the actual consideration of the plumage 
of the neck should again be sub-divided equally, giving two 
and one-half points to the central black stripe, its regularity 
and intensity of lustre, and two and one-half points for the 
silver gray or silver white la(;ing of the feather. Then, when 
a black neck comes up for consideration, we say if the lacing 
l)e wanting for two-fifths of the length of the hackle, causing 
the lower two-fifths to be black, that at least four-fifths of the 
beauty which lies in the edging is gone, and that the cut 
should be four-fifths of two and one-half points, or eighty per 
cent., which would be 2 points. And if, in addition to this 
state of things, the centres have no metallic lustre, another 



iSn.VKK WVANDOTTES. 133 

cut of at least U points would have to be made — for a lack- 
lustre black greatly mars the beauty of the specimen — and 
the neck would receive a cat of, 3.] points. A neck that 
would require such a cutting is rare, but in the males from 1 
to 2-2 points are common, and in females, which as a rule have 
much better defined neck plumage, the cuts range from h to 
l^ generally. The neck in females, considering the character 
of the plumage, has become exceedingly good. In the males 
the gray and mossy appearance is getting to be more common 
than smuttiness. While at a distance, because of their silvery 
looking hackles and saddles, they appear almost faultless, a 
close examination discloses that the stripes in the hackles are 
nearly obliterated, the mere points of the feathers being black 
and the remainder a faded dark slate color. Such stripes, 
even though the lacing be perfect, should be cut twenty per 
cent, of the whole neck, or 2 points, for certainly eighty per 
cent, of the points for the black striping are wanting, and 
fully eigiity per cent, of the beauty of the stripes gone. 

T}ie Back. — The color of the back of the male is silver white 
or silver gray, both having the same effect. The cape is silver 
gray and black, or quite black, in the male ; the back silver 
gray with black centres, but showing only the silver gray on 
the surface; and the saddle silver gray striped with black. 
When the lacing of the saddle feathers is tainted with straw or 
copper color, and the black damaged by gray and copper, we 
cut for the former ^ to 2 points and for the latter J to 2 ; but 
for both defects the cuts do not generally amount to more than 
3 points. For as the defective centres generally have more per- 
fect lacing, what is lost on the one defect is partially gained on 
the other. In exceptional cases, however, the defects are so 
aggravated that a cut of 50 per cent, of the whole allowed for 
back should be made — which in the Standard is 8 points, 
making the cut 4 points— or by our scale 5 points. In females 
the perfect back has a black i)luraage with small white centres. 
The question that has troul)led judges in the past is what is 



134 



PjIILOSOrilY OF JUD(iIN(4. 



meant by "small." We think that a leather one-fourth or 
one-third of whose web was covered by pure white should be 
considered perfect; that is a small part of the whole feather 
and gives a small white centre. It was certaiidy never in- 
tended that so minute a i)ortion of the feather as the shaft, or 
the shaft with a narrow white margin on each side, should be 
considered as answering the Standard i-equirements. Had 
that been the intention it is altogether })robable that it would 
have been so expressed. A reasonable portion of the feather 
was meant to be white. It is clear to any thoughtful person 
that in a feather three-fourths of an inch wide, laced with 
black one fourth of an inch wide, the white would represent 
much less than one-fourth of the entire surface, and while it 
might not look like a very small white centre, when the feather 
was plucked from the buck, it would upon the back, by the 
over-lapping of the feathers, look (juite small. 




[Tlie single feather portrayed is from the centre of the back.] 
The effect produced by this overlapping of the feathers, 
causing a change in the appearance of the white in the Ijack 
both in shape and quantity, has doubtless led to the use of 
the expression, "small white centres." In interpreting the 
language of the Standard, we are to consider all the facts bear- 
ing upon it, in order to arrive at its true meaning. The color 
defects in the female are generally a bronze or reddish discol- 
oration of the white, and a slaty hu(^ to the black, and should 



SiLVKK Wyaxdottes. 135 

l»o cut in proixjrtion to their amount. The Standard of Per- 
fection makes pencilings in the \vnite a defect, but if they are 
slight and coal black in color, and if the white retains its 
silvery shade the cut should be a light one, especially if the 
centres are large. The distinctness of the contrasting colors is 
important, and as a breeder we would rather have one with large 
white centres slightly penciled with black, than one with 
smaller centres unpenciled, but showing discolorations of the 
white, for such— as adults— invariably have discolored rusty 
white centres. In the past the cuts for these defects combined 
have in pullets been .] to U, and in hens 1 to 3 points. The 
rusty white centres are a serious defect and greatly mar the 
beauty of the bird, and therefore deserve to be cut with con- 
siderable severity. But 8 points is certainly all one dare to cut 
for color of white in back, and by an equal division between 
the white and Idack, according to our scale, 2^ points would be 
all that could be cut. If our scale were in use Ave should draw 
the line at 2i points, for it would l)e difficult to defend anything 
})eyond that for this defect, and a judge needs to l)e i)repared 
to defend all his cuts. Were we to draw out in detail these 
cuts we should say that for penciling in centres cut \ point; 
for discoloration of the white from .] to 2, and in extreme cases, 
2^ points; for slaty hue to the black, .] to 2 points. 

The L^7v^s/.— The predominant color of the breast in the 
male is black, the white being its embellishment, in this re- 
spect the bird resembling the Dark Brahma. In an exhil>ition 
specimen the breast should look (piite dark, the white centres 
being so sniall as to be almost covered by the over-lapping 
l)lumage. When the plumage is lifted each feather should 
show a white centre. For a fine breeder we should not desire 
over one-eighth of the surface of the web white, and in an 
exhibition specimen we shouhl pass uncut a breast showing 
feathers from one-eighth to one-third of the web white. Large 
white centres are invariably accompanied by a white outer 
e<lge to the Idark lacing, a defect which is obviated in the 



loti PiiiLosorjiv i)\' Jrix. iN<.. 

nearly black tVatliers. IJefoi'e we eaii secure well laced u[)per 
l)reasts and throats in teuiaies we niaj' l)e ol)li,t>ed in the future 
to acknowledge solid black breasts in the males as unobjec- 
tionable. At present such a breast no longer disqualities, and 
in view of the fact that such l>irds are valuable in the breeding 
pen, we recommend that all cuts on breasts in males that are 
less than one-eightli wlute in tlie web, but are not ([uite solid 
black, be cut from .] to 1,] ])oints, in [)roportion as the wliite 
diminishes from the one-eighth. When the white centres 
exceed one-third of the web, if the black lacing remains 
intact, we would be lenient in our cuts, for they are accom- 
panied with color defects in the body section which will ])e 
there cut, and do uot mar the beauty, while at the sanu' time 
such birds are valuable to mate to over-dark females. A cut 
of from 2 to 1 point would generally be sufficient. A slaty 
hue to the lacings, and irregularity in the lines where the 
black aud white meet, are the other color defects most com- 
monly found, and should be cut for the slaty hue fi'om .] to 2 
points, and for this irregularity from 2 to 1.7 points; 1)ut from 
1 to 2 points for color aic about all that we find in exhibition 
specimens. In the females the breast })lumage is generally 
more defective than in nudes. There is about the same 
difiiculty in getting a well laced throat in a Wyandotte as 
there is a well i>enciled throat in a Dark Brahma. The in- 
herent tendency which gives a black throat to the male and a 
nearly white thr(»at to a female is one of the mysteries in 
AVyandotte breeding that as yet "no fellow can find out." 
Two-thirds of the defects that call for cuts are found in the 
failure of the lacing of the throat and upper breast, and re- 
quire cuts from .1 to 2 })oints. The white in the breast4>lumage 
should 1)0 one-third of the web of the feather, though Ave 
would not cut if it covered one-fourth or two-fifths of tl.e 
surface of the web. A breast, however, which was two-fifths 
white, ninety-nine times in a hundred, would show white 
lacing to the black that would liave to be cut from I to 1 [>oint. 



Sll^VEi; AVVAXDOTTKS. lo7 

Tbree-lourtlis of the cuts made upon the female's breast are 
for color, the shape seldom requiring- over 1 point. 

The Bodi/.—Thi} male is black or black slightly frosted with 
white upon the under j^art of the body. Sometimes a splash 
of white occurs upon the body in front of the thighs, which 
should be cut from h to ^l points. The fluff should be dark 
slate, or dark slate powdered with gray. A smutty dead black 
tiufi" is defective, and a white fluff still more so, and these 
defects should be cut from h to 1 point at least, the cuts for 
color of body on males running from A to 2 points. In the 
females the color is generally less faulty, but defects should 
be cut as found, al)Out as follows: For white under part of 
l)ody, \ to 1 ; for smutty black tluiT, }. to 1 ; for white fluff, h to 
1 ; the larger amount being cut when the defect is pronounced. 
A puri)lish or slaty l;)lack fluff would pass uncut. 

Thr ]Viii(/x.—\n the male the Standard calls for "a double 
spangled bar." If tlie bar. or bars, are wanting, the defect 
should be cut 2 points. If by loss of color there are two 
separate and distinct bars across the wing, cut U points. 
When the bar is solid black witli no spangles through the 
centre, cut I point. If the entire outer web of the secondaries 
w^ere white and the quill slate or black, we would not cut, for 
the white triangular tip beyond tlie bar is a beauty greatly to 
be appreciated, but if this outer web were penciled with brown 
or black, tlius clouding the triangular tip, we would cut from 
h to 2 points, in proportion to the amount of clouding. White 
in the upper web of the primaries should be cut I to 2 points, 
and a solid wdiite feather in i)rimaries or sec-ondaries should he 
cut 1 point. The rose of the wing should be on the surface a 
clear silvery white, and wlien marred with black or l)ronze 
shouhl be cut from I to 2 points, the latter when nearly black. 
In the females the rose should be one-third of the web surface 
white. These centres are sometimes penciled and sometimes 
the feathers become spangled instead of laced. These defects 



lo8 Philo.sopiiy of JiD(;iX(i, 

should be cut frooi .^, to L] poiuts. These defects cluiuge the 
Standard description and deserve to be cut, but as they do not 
generally show much upon the surface, exhibitors are apt to 
think them severe. 

Tlw Tail. — White in the tail of the male is a common fault. 
Sickles white above the tail coverts snould be cut 5 point, and 
from that even to 2 points when this defect affects all four of 
the sickles and the lesser sickles, for these sickles, greater and 
lesser, are the finishing touch to the whole tail, (iiving 10 
points to tail, we would divide as follows: Sickles, o; cover- 
lets, 2, lesser coverts, 2; main feathers, :>. When the coverts 
are wholh' gray, cut 1 point, while if wholly l)lack or l)lack 
laced with silver gray or white, allow them to pass uncut. If 
the tips of the main tail feathers are white, cut 1 point ; white 
appearing at the base, I to 2 points, as it shows from one inch 
to half the length of the tail. In the female the lesser coverts 
may be black or black with white centres, but when ])enciled 
so as to appear grayish or bronzed, cut ] to 1 i)oint, as this 
causes the upp(M' surface of the tail to present a grayish ap- 
pearance. 

Till- Lf'gx ((ltd Fi'i't. — If the thigh plumage of the male is 
black or black sliLJ'htly frosted with gray, it should l)ass uncut; 
if the thighs are really gray, cut 1 point. In the shanks a 
good reasonable shade of yellow should {)ass, the straw color 
to the legs of hens being as perfect as the bright yellow in 
pullets, age and the effects of breeding making the latter fade 
to the former. Light straw, approaching white or flesh color, 
should l)e cut from ', to Xl, the latter for extreme cases, but 
wdien purely flesh color, or any color that cannot l)y a liberal 
construction be construed as a shade of yellow, must dis- 
qualify. A single greenish yellow scale would be too trivial a 
defect to cut, but black scales and dark cloudings to shanks 
and toes should be cut from •] to 2 i)oints, in pro]>ortion to the 
dem'ee of the defect. 



H^iLVEK Wyandottes. 13J> 

CVTS FOR COLOR. 

NECK. 

Lacing obliterated for two-lifths length 2 

('entres withont Instre ^l 

Loss of black stripe ^ 

15ACK. 

Lacing tinged with copper or gray § to 2 

Black tinged with copper or gray A to 2 

Penciled white centres (females) h 

Discolored white centres 2 to 2^ 

Slaty lacing 5 to 2 

BREAST. 

Too dark l)reast hio\l 

Too light . . •• ^i^^^ 

Slaty lacing J to 2 

Irregnlarity of line between col(jrs i to I5 

Failure of lacing (female) 2 to 2 

White edge to black lacing 2 to 1 

BODY. 

White splash . - 2 to L} 

Dead black flutt' Hoi 

White flnfi^ 2 to 1 

White under parts (female) j to 1 

Smutty black Huff (female) 2 to 1 

White fluff (female) Hoi 

WIXOS. 

Want of bar - 

Two separate bars ^ '-i 

Solid black bar i 

Penciled outer web of secondaries 2 to 2 

AVhite in upper web of primaries 5 to 2 

Solid white primary or secondary feather 1 



140 Pjiilosopiiy ok Judgixct. 

Rose marred with black or l)ronze A to 2 

Penciled centres (female) i to 1 •] 

Span^rled instead of laced (female) 5 to 1.] 

TAIL. 

White in sickles ito - 

Gray coverts 1 

White tips to main feathers ... 1 

White at base of main feathers Mo 2 

Upper surface grayish (female) i to 1 

LE(iS AND FEET. 

Gray thighs (male) 1 

Faded shanks 5 t<^ H 

Pdack scales and dark clondinu" i to 2 



GOLDEN WYANDOTTES. 

The plumage of the Golden Wyandotte is the counterpart of 
that of the Silver, with the exception of the ground color, 
which is golden bay instead of silvery white. The defects in 
this variety are produced by the same causes as in the preced- 
ing, and are cut in the same manner. The golden color may 
be marred by pencilings or injured by light shadings or white, 
for which the cuts will be the same as for the reddish and 
V)ronze shadings and the pencilings of the Silver. The black 
lacings are subject to the same rusty or slaty shadings, and, of 
course, to similar cuts. At present we believe there will be 
found a little more irregularity in the divisions of the colors, 
which may cause rather more severe cuts. But the principles 
of scoring are the same and need not be here repeated. For 
details we refer to what we have ah-eady said concerning the 
Silver Wvandottes. 



WHITE WYAXDOTTES. 

As we have already said, in speaking of wiiite varieties, the 
color faults consist in the shadings from pure white to which 
all varieties with such a plumage are subject, and which affect 
the score nearly as much as do the want and imperfection of 
pencilings and barrings in parti-colored varieties. Perfection 
of color is just as much prized and has just as much value in 
a self-colored fowl as in one that has several colors, and the 
failure to reach perfection is about as marked, and will so 
appear when the l)ird is properly scored. AVe are of the 
opinion, however, that the females which will honestly score 
95 points in this variety are more numerous than in the laced 
varieties, and that perhaps there will be found a few more 
males to do the same. The number of the latter, however, 
will be much less than many suppose. The fact that this 
variety has yellow legs and a yellow skin, and that the blood 
is loaded, so to speak, with yellow pigment, will make the 
work of producing pure white birds sufficiently difficult to 
satisfy most fanciers. The straw or reddish color will show 
upon the surface, and ordinarily cause cuts of from | to H 
points in the neck and back; straw colored wing coverts and 
yellow quills in primaries and secondaries will cause cuts 
upon the wings of from J to IJ points; and yellow in the 
quills of the sickles and the main feathers of the tail will 
cause cuts in that section from i to 1 j^oint ; so that the 
number of birds that will score above 91 or 92 points will not 
l)e large. 

In some strains yellow quills appear to an alarming extent. 
If a yellow quill is found in one wing, in nineteen cases out of 
twenty a yellow quill will be found in the corresponding 
feather of the other wing. If dark color is discovered in a 
feather of one wing its mate feather in the other wing should 



142 



Philosophy of Judging. 



be carefull}^ examined, for it may happen that it will have 
become positive l)lack in the second feather, which dis- 
qualifies. 

CUTS FOR COLOR. 

NECK. 

Yellow shading i to 2 

BACK. 

Yellow shading ^ to 2 

BREAST. 

Yellow shading i to 1 

BODY. 

Yellow- shading 5 to 1 

WIX(iS. 

Yellow feather I 

Yellow shading and quills i to :> 

TAIL. 

Yellow in webs 5 to 1.] 

Yellow in webs and quills ^ to 2 

LEtiS AND FEET. 

Color other than yellow, faded from right shade . . . i to 8 




Chapxkr VII. 



APPLICATION OF PKIXCIPLES TO THE SCORING OF 

THE DIFFERENT P.KEEDS, 

CONTINUED. 



GAMES. 

' 1-^ OR a long time English and American breeders have l)een 
'^ developing a fowl that is a great departure in form from 
the original stock. The Pit Game retains the original type. 
The prevailing characteristic of the modern Exhibition bird is 
expressed in the term "reachiness." Length of shank and 
thigh, length of neck, and a general slimness throughout, 
except at the shoulder, has been sought for as the acme of 
perfection. It is a common proof that fanciers are drawn to 
extreme types, but after a certain limit has been passed, the 
gain in type is a loss in grace and beauty. Already in England 
we begin to see signs of the inevitable reaction. Classes for 
the old fashioned Game are being provided at some of the 
leading shows ; prominent fanciers are beginning to character- 
ize the modern Game as "storks;" and "reachiness" is a 
quality that is Vjeginning to lose some of its attractiveness in 
certain influential quarters. While, to a limited extent, we 
cannot help approving this reaction, w^e sincerely hope that it 
will not go too far. We believe that the P'xhibition Game 



144 PlIILOSOl'lI Y OF JriXilNG. 

ought not, and will not, revert to the Pit tj^pe ; that it should 
have a type of its own ; that that type shouM be a condjina- 
tion of substance and elegance, of grace and strengtli. An 
Exhibition Game should possess enough of this quality, 
"reachiness," to give it a thoroughbre<l appearance; enougli 
of substance to make it look powerful and strong. Too great 
a length of neck and limb produces an impression of feeble- 
ness, and feebleness is not a (luality that heightens beauty. A 
weak looking bird can never produce a feeling of satisfaction 
in the beholder, and the sense of satisfaction is one of the 
elements which helps to determine the question of beauty. 

In our illustration we have attempted to present our ideal of 
the Exhibition (rame. We may have departe<l somewhat 
from the ideal of those fanciers who find in ''reachiness" the 
sole qualit}^ worth breeding for, but we believe we have not 
departed from nature in her best developments. We cannot 
believe that it is wise to make a profile for a class — an absolute 
rule by which the whole class must be judged — from the most 
exceptional development of a single variety in that class, and 
we do not hesitate to affirm as our belief, that only the 
extreme types of the Black-breasted Red Game can reach or 
nearly approximate to the profile which has been adopted l)v 
the American Game Club — a profile, let us cheerfully say, 
which is the best embodiment of the extreme type of 
"reachiness" that we have yet seen, and which emphasizes 
the characteristic for which extreme fanciers have for some 
time been breeding. If this profile had been limited in its 
application to the single variety which can approximate to its 
requirements, its results on judging would not have been so 
widespread, but as there is but one description in the Standard 
for form in the whole Game class, and as the American Game 
Club has adopted this profile for all varieties and will use its 
influence to secure the judging of them by this profile, the 
Pyles, ])uckwings, and other varieties will have to be con- 



(ta:mes. 145 

sidered in reference thereto, so far as tliis ])r(><ile can liave any 
influence upon judging. 

To compel them to submit to this rule, based u])<)n some 
rare exce})tion, would be similar to re<juiring all the members 
of the human family to be joined together in ])airs by a 
cartilaginous band, like the Siamese twins, because nature in 
one of her moods had produced such a type. With the illus- 
tration which we have given, we believe that all the Game 
class can be fairly judged, and that by bringing them to this 
type the fowd will be brought to its greatest beauty. In what 
we have said we do not wish to be understood as criticising the 
gentlemen who procured the Game Club's profile. If the 
"reachy" modern type is to prevail, if the chief merit of a 
(iame is its length of joint, then, while the profile may be 
open to some objections, we can consistently commend the 
spirit of the work. As we understand it, that was the object 
and desire of these gentlemen. We call attention to this 
matter because we are obliged to, because we believe the type 
we have illustrated is really more beautiful, and be(;ause w^e 
believe that, wdiile it is now nearer to nature, it will before 
long become the accepted type among fanciers of the Game 
foMi. Certainly the trend of opinion is in this direction, and 
we shall be happy to chronicle the consummation of so-much- 
to-])e-desired a result. 

What do we find in our best specimens? Do we not find 
the point of the hackle meeting the rear edge of the cape at a 
point from which the back takes a straight line to the tail 
coverlets ? Is not this point some two to two and a half inches 
to the rear of the shoulder joints ? Is not the perfect height 
in a Game cock twenty-five to twenty-six inches? Are we in 
error in saying that a bird of this height is superior to one of 
more than twenty-six inches, other things equal? Ought a 
bird tv,^enty-seven inches in height to win over one that is 
twenty-five? Of course, between one twenty-seven inches in 
height and one less than twenty-five, other things equal, the 



14() PlIll,<),S()IMl V OF JlJXilNd. 

latter bird should win, for an exce])tion in favor of height is 
better than an exception that falls below the ideal heigiit. 
But exceptions are not more valuable, nor so valuable, as the 
rule which gives us the })erfect height, foi' with perfection of 
height perfection of form is likely to be found. Comparative 
lengtli of body, and comparative breadth at the shoulders, 
must be united with the ideal lieight to produce the ideal 
Oame form, yet when length, breadth and height are <hdy 
proportioned any height may be considered perfect. 

The straight line of the back sliould slope downward to the 
tail. This can be seen when the hackle reaches the rear edge 
of the cape ; if it falls short of that there will be a depression 
in front of the line which gives the back an arched or 
"roached" form. We have seen illustrations in which the 
hackle reached only to the shoukler joints, but if they had 
been true to life, they would have caused the ba(;k to have 
this roached appearance. But dare any (Tame breeder main- 
tain that a furnished male has a hackle of this length in its 
natural state ? Would that be a perfect representation of the 
true (xame form ? 

The vent in a prime specimen comes near the thighs, with 
a nice roll to the soft plumage under the t^ail 'as it meets the 
crease at the vent. The shortness of the jtlumage gives a neat 
tucked up look to the stern, adding greatly to the vivacity and 
activity of appearance of the fowl. 

In the true view for the profile — that is when the fowl is 
placed at an elevation of three and a half feet from the ground 
and in a position bj^ which a line from the eye of the observer 
is at right angles to the plane which would divide the fowl 
lengthwise in the centre, — a droj) line from the eye of a Game, 
standing in an erect posture, will touch the middle toe near 
the nail. Such a position our cut represents, and a fowl which 
equals our representation should be passed as perfect in sym- 
metry so far as the profile view is concerned, when judged by 



(ta.mks. 147 

a Scale of Points containing synnnetr}' as a section. Such is 
the true carriage of tlie (xame fowL 

The Comb. — Tlie adult males always aud the young males 
usually are shown "dubbed" or trimmed. The trimming 
shoukl be done smoothly so as to leave no rough or ragged 
places. Whe'n im])roi)ei'ly done it should irceive a cut of from 
J to 1 point, in proj)ortion to its imperfection. Tf the cockerels 
are untrimmed and tlie combs are other tlian small, fine in 
texture and evenly serrated, cut from l to 2.7 points, the latter 
cut to be made when the comb is coarse in texture and has 
folds or twists or i^ unevenly serrated. If the comb is large 
in size and twisted in front, cut 2\ points. To females, as they 
are shown undubbed, the rule for cutting nndubbed cockerels 
applies, though the cases will be rare, when 'Ih points will 
need to be cut. 

The Head — The head should be very long in appearance 
and have a clean, lean look. The beak should be strong and 
slightly curved. If the head he short in appearance or the 
beak much curved, cut from h to 1.^ points. A weak looking 
heak should be cut from I to 1 point, according to degree. 

The Xeck. — The neck should be nearly straight, nicely 
tapei'ing from the slioulders to its junction with the head, 
which gives a gentle curvature to it, most in-onounced at its 
upper part, long in appearance, and with short, close hackle 
w'hich should never extend beyond the cape feathers in the 
centre of the back. In a perfect specimen the hackle meets at 
the back of the cape feathers, at a point from which the back 
makes a straight line to the tail. Any illustration representing 
a shorter hackle is not in accordance with nature, and the 
specimen so represented is either deficient in hackle naturally 
or the low^er feathers have been pulled out to produce this 
effect. As we have already said, such a hackle would produce 
in nature a roached back, a defect not to be tolerated in a first- 
<'lass specimen. A short hackle is very desirable but a roached 



148 PiULufsoriiY OF JurxiiXG. 

back is very undesirable. If the hackle is so long as to cover 
in part or wholly the shoulders of the wing, cut from h to 1^ 
points, the latter in an extreme case in males, and in females, 
when the hackle impairs the prominent appearance of the 
shoulders, cut 1 point. If the neck in either sex is too short, 
cut from from J to 1 poin t. 

The Back. — The back should be wide at the shoulders, nar- 
rowing to the tail with a curving taper at the sides, while 
viewed in the profile, it should be a downward sloping straight 
line. It is not inaptly compared to a flat-iron in sha])e when 
viewed from above. Any departure from a* straight line in the 
profile producing a convex curve, should be cut from .} to I2 
points, the extreme cut being for a well developed roached 
back. A hollow back is seldom seen but should be cut the 
same as a roached back, from o .to I.] points. For narrowness 
of the back which shows w^ant of substance cut from .] to 1 
point. For lack of downward slope in the carriage of the back, 
when the profile line becomes horizontal, cut 1 point. 

llie Breast.— The breast of a (irame should be well de- 
veloped, but the erect carriage and length of neck and limb 
produces a very different impression. The "robin breast"' 
that is so greatly a desired feature in other breeds, is not to be 
had in a fowl that carries itself so erect as the (fame. View^ed 
from the side, the breast extends but little forward of the 
wing fronts; viewed in front it is wide, the (piarters well 
rounded, the upper sides having a sharp curve which is in 
keeping with the prominence of the shoulders, and the lower 
taking a longer arc in their sweep to the keel-bone. For full- 
ness of breast, which necessarily accompanies a, low carriage,, 
cut 1 point. For narrowness of breast viewed from the fronts 
cut 1 point. 

The Body and Stern. — The body should be well rounded at 
the sides, and feel solid and hard in the handling. There 
should be a sense of firmness and compactness in the body. 



(tA.MKS. 14;^ 

Flat sides should be cut from | to Ih points. The stern 
narrows from thigli to tail, and from keel to tail, and any 
bagginess, is a serious fault, and should be cut from .] to 1 .^ 
points. The \'ent should be near the thiglis— old cockers say 
the vent should be l)etween the legs— and anything hke a 
long stern and the vent placed far from the thighs should be 
regarded as a defect worthy of a cut of from h to 1 h pohits. 
All slimness and lightness of tlie posterior parts must come 
from closeness and hardness of plumage, not from a lack of 
muscular development. In this breed as in no other strength 
is all important, for strength is an element of its beauty. The 
muscles should be firm and hard, the pelvis bones near and 
firmly held togetlier. An open pelvis is a sure sign of weak- 
ness, an indication of lack of vigor. In the female we expect 
the above to be slightly modified, for the necessity of pro- 
ducing eggs demands a more open pelvis and results in a 
somewhat fuller stern. This produces a less prominent breast 
in appearance and causes her to look thicker through the 
thighs. This modification, however, is slight, and is only a 
sexual difference, the description of the male applying very 
closely to the female. 

The keel bone should be straight, and a crooked one, though 
not a disqualification, is a defect which should be cut from Ao 
2 points. If this seems a large cut it is to be remembered that 
the closeness of the plumage on the Game and its peculiarly 
erect carriage, brings this defect prominently into view, very 
much more so than in longer feathered breeds. A short crook 
is not nearly so bad as a long curvature, for the latter turns 
the whole body to one side, and is a more certain indication of 
constitutional weakness. The former might have resulted 
from an accident, but the latter could hardly be referred to 
that cause. The latter should, therefore, oe cut with twice the 
severity of the former. 

TJw nVy/ry.s.— The Avings should l)e large, powerful, adhering 



150 Pjiii.osopiiy of Judcuxc;. 

I'lt^si'ly to the l)0<ly at the tip, closely folded, the fronts slightly 
detached from the body and carried well forward toward the 
front line of the breast. The prominence of the wing fronts 
and their slightly raised position at the shoulder, gives the 
fowl the appearance of alertness and readiness for action which 
is a characteristic of the breed. In our opinion the wing should 
reach the entire length of tl)e body, though not extend beyond 
it. Extreme shortness of hackle will be likely to influem'e the 
length of feather in other parts, and if it is bred for, it is prob- 
al)le that the wings will become shorter, and will, therefore, 
cease to be so characteristic a feature of the br(H'(l as it has 
been in the past. 

The usual defects in wings are imperfect folding, and car- 
I'iage over the back; the latter, especially in females, is often 
so marked, tliat the plumage of the back is nearly or com- 
pletely hidden by the wings. A loose, lia<lly folded wing is an 
abomination in a (lame and should be cut from ■} to 2 points. 
When carried over the Ijack it should be cut one i)<.>int. Tiie 
fronts partially or wholly hidden in breast plumage cut h to 1 
point. For twisted feathers in the wing cut 1 to 2 points. 

Jlic Tdll. — For the past tifte<'n years the tail of the Exhibi- 
tion (iame has been dinnnisliing in size, and if this is continu- 
ed for a like perio<l and at the same rate, it will be our duty 
to chronicle the fact that the fashionable (.Tame is a tailless 
bird, able to compete with the Rumpless fowl if it only can 
get rid of the "pope's nose." Is it not time to call a halt and 
save the most beautiful feature of the fowl? In the profile, to 
which we have before referred, the extreme shortness of tail 
has been illustrated. The other extreme is found upon the old 
fashi(»ned Pit fowl. Neither the one nor the other should be 
regarded as perfection, but one such as we have represented in 
our illustration. This we have made as small as jiroper pro- 
portion, balance of parts, a true idea of grace, Ijeauty and 
symmetry, and typical characteristics will permit. The craze 



(iA.MES. 151 

lor long shanks, crane necks, and bob tails, brought about by 
a probable infusion of Malay blood, should be checked, (lame 
breeders owe it to themselves and to their fowls to secure this. 
We go far enougli when we say tliat tlie tail should be medium 
small, that it should by no means look large nor exceedingly 
small, but that it must have length enough to give the style 
that is so taking to the eye. The tail is popularly descril)ed as 
a "wdiip tail," but it should not be a whip with the tip broken 
o(f, robbed of its flexibility and sna[). In cariiage the tail 
should l)e a little above the horizontal. Jt carried too high it 
should be cut from A to .2.^ points, the full cut being for the de- 
fect known as squirrel tail. If too large and })ushy it should be 
cut from ^j to :> points, the latter when bi'oad an<l wi<le like the 
old time fowl. The sickles should not be cut for length, pro- 
vided they are nearly straight and nariow an<l proi)erly taper- 
ed and the secondary sickles are in kee})irig. Pi-o])er i)ropor- 
tion demands this. If the neck, the shanks, the thighs and 
the bod.v are all long, the sickles and tail coverts should also 
be long to be in keeping with the rest. A Game's tail is short 
only when compared with a fowl like the rrand:)urg. It is 
medium short when companMl with the tails found on fowls 
of its own l)reed. A c(ni'p(n-((tir('/i/ shoit wlii]) tail in a (lame is 
of course to l)e preferi-e(l to a hu-g'', long (lame tail. The com- 
parison of length and size must be conlined to the bret'd under 
discussion, and not carried to other breeds. 

In the female the tail is carried a trifle moie erectly than in 
the male, as her carriage is less erect than that of the male, 
and the line of the l)ack less descendii^.g. The angle of the 
tail with the back, however, is the same. The defects in shape 
and carriage of the tail in females are usually .] to 1.^ poijits. 

TJir Ln/s (ind Feet. — The thighs should be long, and firm in 
muscle. They cannot be called muscuhir, in the sense of ap- 
pearing large, for they look rather small and light, but at the 
junction with the second joint, they look large in pro[)ortion 



152 I*iiii,os(»i'H V OF JuD{;iN(.. 

and denote stren^tli. A shovt tliigli is )>a<l tonn, and shonld 
be cnt h to 2 points. The sluinks slioidd be strong in bone, 
clean, long, and s!uo(»thiy scaled. Any bnnches nnder the 
hock joint or enlargeiin^nt of the Ixme below shonld be cut h 
to I'V p<»!nts. Tof> short shanks shonld be cut, like tlie thigiis, 
from 2 to 2 points, the latter being demanded only in extreme 
cases. The thighs slope l)ut little towards the hock and the 
shanks should stand pL'rj)eiidicularly, or nearly so, l)e wi'll 
apart, parallel, and if they bend inward at the hock, l)ecoming 
"knock-kneed," should be cut •] to ."> points, this defect being 
so ol)servable in this bree(l as to demand a severer cut than in 
most breeds. Nntural absence (tf spurs cut 2 points. 

The toes shoidd be long and rest flatly ui)on the ground, the 
hind toe being placed low down. If the reai- toes only touch 
the ground at the tip, cnt 1 point; ii the same are turned in 
so as to form a right angle with the inside toe, cut 1 point for 
each toe. VaicU crooked toe, cut 1 point. Absence of toe nail, 
cut 2 point. Lrtss of first joint of any toe, cut 1 point. 



errs for form. 

COM!!. 

Impro[)er dnbbing 2 fo 1 

Bad shape, size, etc 2 to 2j 

Large and twisted 2j 

UEAl). 

Short 2 tt> U 

Too curved beak Hol| 

Weak beak Uo 1 

NKCK. 

Too long hackle • | to b] 

Too l()ng or shoit neck I to 1 

15ACK. 

Koached Uo U 



(tAMKS. loo 

Hollow A to U 

Narrowness J to 1 

Horizontal 1 

BREAIST. 

Too full 1 

Too narrow 1 

BODY A XI) STEKX. 

Flat sides J to U 

Bagginess J to li 

Long stern J to 1 i 

Crooked keel h to '2 

WlXCiS. 

Eadly folded * to 2 

Carried over back 1 

Fronts hidden .j to 1 

Twisted feathers 1 to 2 

TAIL. 

Carried too high i to 2^ 

Too large an<l ])nsh\- i to !> 

I>Et;s AXD FEET. 

.Short thigh J to 2 

Bunches J to L} 

Short slianks j to 2 

Knock-kneed J to 1} 

Absence of spurs 2 

Rear toe too high 1 

Forming right angle 1 

('rooked toe 1 

Absence of nail 2 

Loss of first joint 1 



BLACK BREASTED RED (i A:\IES. 



TlIK MALE 



111 speaking of varieties, it is unnecessary to describe any- 
thing but color, for our remarks upon form, already made, 
apply to all varieties alike. It is true that the Black Breasted 
Red and the Red Pyles are usually superior to the other 
varieties in form, having been more largely raised and more 
carefully bred to a high standard. But the SfcnuJanJ of Per- 
fection recognizes but one form for all varieties, and the only 
difference possible to make in scoring the vnrieties for form is 
a more liberal interpretation of the terms of the Standard in 
accordance with the development of the varieties as they 
actually appear. Either this must be done or the other 
varieties must sc<)re lower for form. AVe liave already indi- 
cated what the judge should do. 

The Beak, llend and Ei/e.H — For any color other than light 
or dark horn in the beak, cut i to 1 point, the latter if it be 
ticsh color or yellow. The eye, if it l)e other than Ijay or red 
in color, cut ^ to 1 point, the former if the color be a faded 
bay, the latter if it be not l)ay or red or some of tluMr shadings. 
The plumage is light red, l)ut darker in shade than the hackle, 
and usually re(piires no cut. 

Hie (Jonib, Wattles and Ear-lobe^. — All shouhl be perfectly 
red, V)nt w hite in the ear-lobe is a common defect, and should 
be cut 2 to 1 ])oint in l)oth sexes. ' 

TJte Nerk. — Light red or orange, free from black stripes, is 
the demand of the Standard, and any variation from this de- 
mand must be considered defective. A stripingf of the hackle 
with black, brown or l)ronze should l)e cut A to '2}} points. A 
<leep red shade of the wdiole hackle, cut 1 ]>oint. The front of 



Black Biu:asted Red (tames. loJV 

the iiet'k is black, and white in uiuler-color, or red or bronze 
in the surface, should be cut 2 to 1 point. It is a mistake to 
judge front of the neck with breast, as is indicated bv the de- 
scription of color in the SfaitdanL 

The Back. — The color of back and the "rose" of the win.ijrs 
should match in shade and they both should be crimson red. 
The Standard description "red" is too indefinite, as tlicre are 
many shades of red. The saddle should shade out into the 
brighter color of the hackle. Any black, brown or bi'onze in 
the surface !?1iould be cut ^ to 2.1 points, and white in the 
under-color should be cut h to I.] points, but so j)ure in color 
is this variety that one point in the i)ast has seldom been 
exceeded in the cuts for back, but now that the points for 
color have been greatly increased wc may find specimens that 
will be cut from 1 to 2 points in isolated cases. 

llie Brcd^t. — Any color othei' than l)lack is to be severely 
punished; a mottled breast in a Black Ked (Jame ought to 
have been a discpialification as much as in a Partridge Cochin. 
This defect should be cut 1 to :> points, and white in the under- 
color 2 to lo points. 

Bixlji <ni<l Stem. — Are both l)lack, or should lie, but the 
defect most commonly found is that the red of the back creeps 
down the sides, mottling the surface beneath the wings and 
l)owdering the stern with red or salmon. This should be cut 
2 to 1 point, and does not deserve a very severe cut, foi- a nice 
saddle is apt to l)e accoini)'inied by this defect. 

TJw ]]'iii(/K. — The wing rose or shoulder coveits, so t-alled to 
distinguisii them from the wing-coverts forming tlie bar, 
should be crimson red, and when foreign color of any kind is 
found in the red, or when the red is found in tlu^ bar, which 
should be blue l)lack, or when the outer edgv of tlie ])riniaries 
have no maroon or bay edging, the wing is defective, and 
when all of these defects exist should be cut from 1 to 2 points, 
in proportion to the defect. White in the primaries or secon- 



15() Philosophy of Judging. 

daries shoulrl be cut \ to 2 points. The wiiiu' fronts are seldom 
faulty, being almost always of the I'equired blai k. For want 
of bay edging to pi'imaries, cut ■', jtoint; foi- re<l, l)ronze or 
gray in the wing bar, .] to 1 point ; for black in the rose of the 
wing, 2 to 1 point. 

TJic Tail. — The tail, including main feathers, sickles, lesser 
sickles and coverts, should be black. For i-ed shafts and tips 
to coverts and coverlets, cut 1 jioint ; white in ariy part of the 
tail, J to 2 points; white in sickles, beiim- the most ol^jection- 
able defect in tail, h to 1^ points. 

Leys (111(1 Toes. — If the black of the thigh be streaked or 
mottled with red or gray, cut I to 1 point. Any shade of 
willow in shanks should go uncut, but any other coloi", as 
flesh, blue or yellow, should l)e cut I to l.j points. Flesh 
color is the most objectionable, and should l)e cut Ih points. 
Yellow and blue, being the (;olors that more closely approxi- 
mate to willow, should be cut 1 point. Tf the bottom of thi- 
feet are yellow or flesh color, cut 1 point; if the toes be shaded 
deeply with yellow, I point; if wholly yellow or blue, 1 
point. 

We have been speaking only of the nuile, but comb, wattles, 
ear-lobes, shanks and toes of both sexes should be alike, and 
further refcM'ence to them is unuecessary. 

IIIK KK.MAI.K. 

I'lic JI((((I. The }>lumage is of a golden brown and is almost 
never faulty to a punishable degree. The eye is subject to the 
same cuts as in the male. 

Tlic Ned. — If the black stripe is penciled with any foreign 
color, or if the lemon colored lacing of the feather be smutted 
and rendered darker than it ought to be by any other color, or 
if the outer e<lge or the [)oint be darkened by a f<>reign coloi". 
cut .] to 1 point. 



Black Breasted Bed Games. 157 

Tlic Jldck. — 111 ])rime .specimens tlie back is of a ])rowin8h 
color penciled with a darker brown or ])lack. The shaft of 
the feather we like to see of the lighter shade of these colors. 
The ground color becomes defective by running into a dark or 
molasses brown, which gives a very objectionable reddish 
shading to the back and destroys the light shafting of the 
phimage. This defect is cut h, to 2 points, and in specimens 
not up to exhibition quality may deserve even a more severe 
cut. 

The Breast. — A medium shade of salmon color at the throat, 
shading into an ashy brown beneath, is a perfect color for this 
section. Any brown jjenciling in this is cut h to 1 point, and 
a faded-out hue — called wheaten in Game parlance — is also cut 
•J, to 1 point. 

TJie Body. — The body color is seldom defective, being an 
ash}' brown, but when darker must be cut \ to 1 point, in pro- 
portion to the amount of streakiness with dirt color or black. 

The Wings. — The wings, excepting the primaries, are of 
brown penciled with a darker brown or nearly black, with the 
shafts of the lighter color. The primaries and upper web of 
the secondaries are a brownish slate, shading to nearly black, 
the best specimens we think are nearer a blue-black slate than 
black. Colors foreign to this must be cut o to 1 point, as in 
degree. 

Tlie Tail. — The tail proper is of a slaty brown, nearly black, 
the two top feathers being powdered with brown, and the 
coverlets are of an ashy brown penciled with a darker brown. 
When the pencilings are so dark or so prominent as to destroy 
the ashen shade in the "deck " feathers and the coverlets, cut 
2 to 1 point, in proportion to the degree of the defect. 



15S PiiiLo.soPHY OF Judging. 

CUTS FOR COL OIL 

Male. 

I'.EAK, HEAD AND EYES. 

Wroiiu' color in l)eak .] to 1 

Wrong color in eye h to 1 

EAI{-I.OP,ES. 

White i to 1 

NECK. 

Stripe in hackle ', to 2^ 

Deep re<l hackle 1 

White under-color h to 1 

Red or Ijronze surface 2 to 1 

BACK. 

Black, brown or bronze i to 2|1 

White under-color ittvl^ 

BREAST. 

Mottled 1 t(. :] 

AVliite under-color I Xn Ih^ 

BODY AXD STERN. 

Mottled or streaked 2 to 1 

WINGS. 

White in primaries and secondaries 2 to 2 

Want of bay edging to primaries h 

Red, brown or bronze in bar 2 f^^ 1 

Black in rose i to 1 

TAIL. 

Red shafts and tips to coverts 1 

White Ho 2 

Wliite in sickles i to 1^^ 

LEGS AND TOES. 

streaked thigh 2 to 1 

Wrono' color in shanks ^ to 1^^ 



Black 1>i;i-:asti:i) Kkd (tamks. 151) 

Wrong color to l)Ottoni feet 1 

Shaded toes ^ 

Yellow toes 1 

FciiKilc. 

NEClv. 

Penciled stripe 5 to 1 

Smutty lacing Mo 1 

Dark edgiijg - . ^ to 1 

BACK. 

Reddish shading i to 2 

BREAST. 

Penciled ^o 1 

Too light A to 1 

i5onv. 

Too dark 4 to 1 

WlXCiS. 

Foreign color 2 to 1 

TAIL. 

Too dark deck feathers J to 1 

Too dark coverlets i to 1 




BROWN RED GAMES. 

TiiK :maij:. 

TJw Head. — Under the new Standard tlie bead of a Brown Red 
(Tame must be orange, the beak black or very dark brown, the 
eyes black or brown, and the face, wattles, comb, ear-lobes, 
dark purple or black to secure the specimen from color cuts. 
The color, it will be observed, is very dark and shows much 
depth. The color of the head is seldom or never cut. A beak 
shaded with yellow or flesh color would l)e cut ^ to 1 point. 
The eyes, if paler than the Standard description, would be 
cut i to 1 point. 

TM Neck. — Tiie hackle must be lemon in color with a dis- 
tinct black stripe in each feather. Any penciling of the stripe, 
any mossiness of the color, any show of foreign (X)lor, or any 
fading of the strij^e should be cut from I to 2 points, according 
to the amount of the defect. 

The Back. — The back is now described as lemon instead of 
dark red, and the saddle like the hackle. A departure from 
the correct shade of the back should be cut ^> to 1 point. If 
the saddle be dark red, cut 1 point ; a deep orange red, .] point. 
Want of stripe in saddle or fading of the same, .} to 1 point. 

TJie Breast. — The ground color should be intense black, each 
feather having an even lacing of lemon. Red shading through 
the entire web should be cut i to 3 points, as it approaches the 
old-time Ginger Red ; when it becomes fully a Ginger Red the 
specimen should be passed as unworthy. A solid black breast 
should be cut fully 3 points, or passed as misclassed, but when 
the beak, eyes and saddle are Standard in color, we should 
cut the 3 points and permit the specimen to compete. 



Bkowx Kki) (i.\Mi:s. 1()1 

77// I>(>'l(/ and Sft'ni. — A jji:ootl black is '(leniniKU'd, and all 
forei,i!:n sliadiiig sliould be cut ■] to 1 }K)int. The g-niv or red 
Irostiu.u' on the stern and alonu' tlu* side of the body, cut 1 
point. 

77/r n7;///.s. — Fronts are black and seldom faulty. The 
"rose" or shoulder coverts should be lemon, and when tainted 
with l>Iack or brown cut 5 to 1 i)oint. If the black l)ar is 
tarnished with lemon or red, cut 5 to 1 point. Any color 
other than black found in primaries and secondai'ies, cut .j to 
1 point. 

I'lic Tail. — No color l)ut black is permissible. Straw, lemon 
or red in shafts of sickles should be cut 2 to 1 point. White 
in the tail proper ouy'ht to dis(]ualify, but as it does not, it 
should l)e cut 2 to 2.] jioints. 

TJic Lcijx and Feet. — For any foreign shadinir in tlje black of 
the thighs, cut A to 1 point. Aiiy color other than dark wHlow 
or nearly black in the shanks should be cut \ to 2 points. A 
blue leg we would cut 1 point; a yellow or flesh colored, 2 
]>oints. If the bottoms of the feet are yellow, cut 1 point; if 
the whole of the feet are yellow, cut 2 points. Only dark 
willow or black should be passed as perfect. 

THE FEMALE. 

llw Head. — Is required to be golden or lemon, and if foreign 
color, as for example, reddish brown, be present, cut -2 
point. For beak, ej^es, shanks and toes, cut the same as in 
the male. The comb, wattles and earlobes of the female, 
though described in the Standard as the same as those of the 
male, are usually darker than in the male, and if of a light red 
shade, should l^e cut ^ to 1 point. 

The Xcck. — The hackle is lemon with a black stripe, or, as 
we would prefer to describe it, black with a lemon lacing. If 
the black is penciled wdth lemon, cut 2 to 1 point. For a black 
or smutty lacing to the outer edge of the lemon color, cut I to 



J()2 pHiLOHOi'iiY OF Judging. 

li points, as it appi'oaches a decidedly smutty apiH'ai'ance at 
the base of the hackle. 

The Back. — The back is now required to be l)lack, but if 
shaded witli brown should be cut very lightly, for this brown 
cast to the color is a characteristic from which, the variety 
takes it name. If the brown be too prevalent and too pro- 
nounced, cut 1 point. 

The Breast. — The ground color should be black and the 
lemon lacing evenly distril»uted. F^or reddish shading in the 
ground color, cut .] to 2] points. 

TJie Hodi/ and Stern. — Should be black, but a dusky l)lack 
may be passed uncut. A reddish tinge, however, should be 
cut 2 to 1 point. 

TJie Wings. — A reddish cast should be cut 2 t<> 1 point. 
Sheeny, slaty blue spots that look light in the primaries or 
secondaries, cut .} to li points. White in any part, cut with 
severity or pass the specimen as unworth}'^ of competition. 

TJie Tad. — For any color othei- than black, cut from \ to 1^ 
points. Seldom is it necessary to cut more, but if there should 
be sheeny light spots and i-eddish shading a cut of from 1 \ to .'> 
points would 1)e demanded. Such birds seldom get into an 
exhibition. 

CUTS FOR COLOR. 
Male. 

HEAD. 

Beak shaded with yellow 2 to I 

Pale eye \Uy\ 

NECK. 

Penciled stripe 2 to - 

Mossiness | to 2 

Foreign color A to 2 

Faded stripe I tx) 2 



Bijow'N Kei) (tamks. \{y:i 

BACK. 

Wrong shade A to 1 

Dark red saddle . 1 

Orange saddle .', 

Want of stripe in saddle .-, to 1 

Fade<l sti-ij)e A to 1 

HIJKAST. 

Red shading through wel» .', to 15 

Solid hlack l)reast ;{ 

IJODV AM) STEKX. 

Foreign color i to 1 

(rray or red frosting 1 

wix(;s. 

Black or brown in rose .^1 to 1 

Tarnished bar -Mo 1 

Foreign color in flights .Ho 1 

TAII>. 

Straw, lemon or re<l in sickles . .\ to 1 

White in tail i)ro})er j? to 2.> 

1>E(;S AX D FEET. 

Foreign color in thighs Ho 1 

AVrong color in shanks Ho 2 

Blue shanks ] 

Yellow or flesh colored shanks 2 

Bottoni of feet yellow 1 

Whole feet yellow 2 

Female. 

HEAD, 

Foreign color j 

"^ . . ^ 

("omb, etc., light red -Ho f" 

NECK. 

Penciled stripe in hackle . .', to 1 

Smutty lacing A to 1 .' 



1(14 I'hii.osoi'iiy of .Tri)(;iN(;. 

HACK, 

Too brown 1 

HHEA8T. 

K'eddisli sluulin.u' h to 2j 

P.ODY AND STEUX. 

Re<l(lisli tinu'c .1 to 1 

wix(;s. 

Reddish cast .Uo 1 

Sheeny spots in tli.uhts .] to 1 A 

TAIL. 

Wronu" color '> to J! 

lii.U'ht s|)ots and reddisli shading' . . 1 .] to :> 



DUC^KWING (tAMES. 

We consider Silver and (iolden Duckwings together, foj- 
they differ hut little in color in the males except in ground 
color of hackle, back, wing and saddle, and in the females stil! 
less, the difference being mainly a difference of shade. The 
arrangement of the colors, markings, and the like, aiv 
identical, and the colors vary ordy as we have indicated. 

THK MAI.KS. 

TJic lleaO. — The |»lumage of the Silver male should be 
silvery white ; of the Golden, straw color. Color foreign to 
these should be cut h point. The beaks in both varieties an 
horn, light or dark, but the beak of the Golden is generally 
the darker, A yellow Ijeak in the Goldens should be cut h, 
and a flesh colored beak 1 point. In the Silver, cut 2 point for 
blue beak and 1 point for flesh colored. The eyes should be 
red or hixy in both sexes and both varieties. For a very light 
faded bay, cut 2 l)oint ; a brown, yellow or daw eye, cut 1 
|)oint. 



DrcKwixG (Iames. 



1()5 



The i\VcA-.— Silvery white and straw color, free from black 
stripes, are the colors of the hackle for the Silver and Golden 
varieties respectively. The defects are black or brown, com- 
mon to both, and are cut l to 2 points, the latter when the 
hackle is distinctly striped. Yellow in Silvers and white in 
Uoldens should be cut I to 1 point. The throat is black in 
both varieties. 

Tlw Bark:~The Silver male has a silvery white back and 
saddle, the Golden a l)right cop])er or golden colored back and 
light golden or straw colored saddle. In the Silver the pre- 
vailing defects are black in the silvery white, stripes in the 
saddle and black and copper color in the back, vvhicli should 
be cut .\ to 2}. points; in tlie Golden the defects are black and 
yellow in the fopper color, and black and reddish l)ro\vn in 
the saddle, causing a like cut of h to 2^ points. 

TJh^ Jhrasf.—Both varieties have a solid black breast. White 
and red are the usual defects, causing a cut of from }, to 1 
point in show si)ecimens and 1 to ;; in birds unsuitable foi- 
exhibition. 

Thr Bo>h/ aiHl Sfn-H.~A reasonal)le black should pass uncut. 
If stern is poAvdered with gray, cut ^ point ; grav in front of 
legs seldom beyond ^ point in exhibitiou birds, 1 to 2 points in 
breeding and second-class stock. 

^^ r//r^ ll7//,v.s'.— In Silvers the defect to be looked for in the 
"rose" is black or copper color, which should be cut I to ] 
l)oint; in Goldens, light yellow, white or black feathers, which 
should be cut a to 1 point. Wing fronts are black, but in the 
(Toldens the band is wider than in the Silvers, and a narrow 
band of black to the wing front of the Goldens may be justly 
cut I ])oint. AVhite in the upper or inner web of the primaries 
or secondaries of either variety should be cut .^ to i point 
Bronze, white or copper color in the blue-black wing bars 
should be cut h to 1 point. Brown shading in the outer web 
<)1 the secondaries and want of white or straw color in the outer 



IBH Philosophy of JrD(TiN<j. 

\veb of the primaries cut o to 1 point, and '2 |)oints when hah' 
of the secondaries are affected with this brown shadinu;- in 
either variety. 

T}tr TdU. — An}^ foreign color, sucli as white in tlie sickles, K 
to 2 points ; white shafts in coverlets or red or copper, \ to 1 
point; white in naain tail feathers, 2 to \l points ; is a serious 
defect in the metallic black of the wliole tail. The total cuts, 
however, in exhibition specimens will seldom exceed lo points, 
while in others they may reach a total of .'> points. 

The Legs and Feet. — Any foreign color in thighs cut .] to 1 
point. Shanks must be willow, and any departure therefrom 
should be cut 2 to 1.] points, AVe would cut a bronze shank 2 
jxjint, a blue 1 point, and a yellow H points. The feet and toes 
would follow in a similar order of value, but should not be cut 
l>eyond one point. Shanks and feet of both sexes recpiire the 
same treatment in scoring. 

THE FEMALES. 

llie Head. — In the Silver the plumage is silvery gray, in tlu' 
Golden dark gray, and if tarnished with red<lish brown should 
l)e cut ■'> point. 

71ie Neck. — The same dilTerence in plumage of neck as of 
head exists in the two varieties, the hackle having a black 
stripe. For penciling in hackle, cut .] to 1, and for a smutty 
hackle 2 to 1 .j points. 

The Bark. — The Ijack of the (nrolden is darker tlian that of 
the Silver on account of its heavier penciling. For reddish or 
<lark brown discolorations, the more common defects, cut from 
.] to 1 2 points. 

TJie Breast. — In both varieties the breast is salmon color, but 
is darker in the (.Tolden than the Silver. The defects are a fad- 
ing to an ashy color, for which cut 2 to I2 points ; and a brown 
penciling down the quarters, for which cut 2 to 1 point. We 



Dut'KWINii (tA.MES. 167 

would not cut a dark salmon breast on a Silver l)ut we would 
cut a light salmon breast on a ({olden. 

TJie Body and Stent.. — Foreign col<n- in Ixxlyand stern should 
be cut 2 to 1 point. 

TJw Wings. — The wings of the (lolden are distinguishable by 
a brownish ash color along the lower portion of the shoulder 
coverts, a mark which is absent in the Silver. In the Silver 
the brownish color, (legitimate in the (loldens) should be cut 
5 to 1 point. In the Golden the comnu:)n defect is an approach 
to the Black Red color, the wing having a dark brown or red- 
disli shading which should be cut h to b] points as the wing 
approaches the color of the wing of tlie Wlieaten hen. The 
sliafts of the feathers should show light gray in the Golden 
and white in the Silver variety. In the quill feathers of the 
wings the defects to be cut are usually a brown shading or pen- 
ciling of the feather or white in the upper web, or foreign color 
in the same an<l should be cut o tf> 1 point. 

The Tail. — The tail seldom requires cutting in good speci- 
mens. A reddish shading to the coverlets and two upper main 
feathers, should be cut I to 1 point. 

CUTS FOR COLOR. 
Male. 

Foreign Color \ 

Yellow beak in Golden h 

Flesh colored beak in Golden 1 

Blue colored beak in Silver 2 

Flesh colored beak in Silver 1 

Faded eyes 2 

Brown, yellow or daw eyes 1 

NECK. 

Brown or black in hackle .] to 2 

Yellow in Silver and white in (iolden I to ^ 



1()S PlIILOSOI'JIY OK JuJ)(;iN(i. 

BACK. 

Black in Silver \ to 21 

Cop])er color in Silvci' 4 to 22 

Stripes in saddle -i to 2.7 

Black and yellow in (loldcn ^o 2.] 

Black and reddish biown in saddK' ^ to 2^ 

p. K EAST. 

White or red in l)reast ^ to 1 

IJODV AX J) STEKN. 

J^ovvdered with gray h 

Gray in front of legs .] to 2 

WIN" -is. 

Foreign color in rose .^, to 1 

Narrow band in fronts of Golden I 

AVhite in ni)pei' web of flights • 2 to 1 

Foreign color in bar . 2 t<J 1 

Brown shading in outer web, secondaries, 2 to 1 

Want of white or straw in outer web, [»riniaries . . . I to I 

Half of secondai'ies shaded with brown 2 

TAIL. 

Whit(^ in sickU-s ^. to 2 

White shafts in coverlets . . •] to 1 

Red or (op]>er in coverlets 2 to ] 

White in main feathers 2 to 1 ^ 

[.E(tS AM) FEK'l'. 

Foreign coloj- in Hughs 2 to 1 

Bronze shaid-^ 2 

Blue shank 1 

Yellow shank . . 11 

Feet and toes wrong cojoi }> to 1 

Fcnude. 

UEAU. 

lieddisli l)rowii tarnish A 



Red Pyle (iA>[Ks. 1(59 

XECK. 

IVncilcMl liackle Mo 1 

Siimtty liaekle Mo U 

I'.ACK. 

Redtlish (liscolorations 2 to 1 .j 

RREAST. 

Faded (•(.lor Uo U 

l>rowii peiK-ilinu' on (juartt-M's .....] to 1 

IJODY AM) STERN. 

Foreign color 2 to ] 

\vix(;s. 

iirownish shade in Silvers 2 to 1 

l)ark br(.)wn or reddish in (loldens .] to 1 .1 

Jirown shading or penciling of quill feathers •] to 1 

White or foreign color in upper webs ] to 1 

TAIL. 

Reddish shading h to \ 



RED PYLE (iA?k[ES. 

THE MAI,E. 

llic JIi(((l. — Wiiite or yellowish brown in plumage of the 
head, cut •! point. Beak other than yellow or willow, cut h to 
1 point. In both sexes eye should be red or bay ; for a faded 
bay, cut •] point ; for brown or daw, cut 1 ]M)int. 

TJtr Xcck. — Black ai)pearing in hackle or throat, cut •'. to 1.] 
points, and 2.2 whenever well defined dark colored stripes 
appear in the hackle feathers. 

TJic Hack. — Spattering of 1»lack through the plumage should 
be cut .] to 1 point. Faded coloi' in l.ack and saddle, cut from 
.] to 1 ])oint. 

The Jh'caxt. — F\jr darker tlian Standard color with brown or 
dark chestnut, cut '> to 1] points, and when brownish red, cut 
2.] points. 



170 Piiii.o.soi'iiv OF Jri)(.iN<;. 

The Bod;/ oikJ Stem. — When the stern and thit>hs are 
streaked or spotted with red, copper color or black, cut from 
2 to 2 points, in proportion to the amount of dis(;oloratioii. 
When this foreign color is confined to the ])()dy uud(U" the 
wings 2 point is sufficient. 

Tlw WiiKju. — Black spots and splaslies appearing in any part 
of tlie wing, or the rose or any part of the red of the wing 
fading to yellowish red or white, cut h to '1 points 

Tlu- Tdil. — For foreign color in the tail, sphishes minute or 
large, out \ to 2 points. White upper surface with clouded 
under surface of the tail proper should he cut ] to 1 point. 

Tlw Lt'gs (Old Feci. — Willow or yellow legs are permissible, 
though. w^e believe only yellow legs should have been con- 
sidered perfect. If the legs become white or nearly so, cut I 
to 1 point. Any foreign color in thighs, cut .] to 1 jtoint. Feet 
follow the rule for shanks, and shanks and feet in l>otli sexes 
should be considered alike. 

THK fi;m.\i.k. 

TIk' Head. — Betds other than yelloM oi- willow, cut .j to 1 
])oint, the latter for (lesh colored beak. i'^oreign color in 
plumage, h to 1 point. 

The Neck. — Color other than Standard, cut •] to 1 point, the 
latter being seldom excee<led.' l^hu-k is the nsual defect. 

TJtc Back. — The cape, which is considered with the back, 
will be shaded with the color of the hackle in prime speci- 
mens, but should not l>e cut for this shading. Reddish shading 
in the back proper, or black spatters in it or the cape, should 
l>e cut I to Ig points. 

Thr Brmsf. — If the breast is so light as to be pi'operly de- 
scribe<l as white shaded with red, cut h to 1] i)oints, and if 
clear white, 2^ points. 

The Body and Stern. — The female should be free from all 
foreign color in body and stern, excej>t near the breast, where 



Ked Pyi.K (tames. 171 

tlie salmon fades into tlie white or creamy white. If this 
shading has not faded out before the thighs are reached the 
defect should be cut A to 1 point. 

The T'Fn<(/s.— Black or copper color or brown in any part of 
the wing should be cut h to 1^ points. 

Th' Tail—The cuts are the same as for male. 

CUTS FOB COLOR. 
Male. 

HEAD. 

White or brownisii yellow •] 

Beak wrong color v] to 1 

1 
taded eye -' 

Brown or daw eye ^ 

NECK. 

Black in plumage 2 to U 

Dark stripes ... Lj 

BACK. 

Black spatters 2 to 1 

Faded color 2 to 1 

BREAST. 

Too dark (foreign color) A to Ij 

Brownish red -2 

BODY ANT) STERN. 

Ked, copper or black streaks 2 to 2 

Foreign color under wings • 2 

WINCiS. 

Black spots or splashes 2 to 2 

Faded red 2 to _ 

TAIL. 

Splashes oi foreign color 2 to l 

Clouded under surface ^ t^) 1 

I.Eds AND EEET. 

White or nearly so 2 to 1 

ForeiiTU color in thighs -j to 1 



172 Piiii.osopjiv OF JrD(;iX(T. 

HEAD. 

Wrong- color in beak ^ to 1 

Foreign color in plumage I to 1 

NKCK. 

r'oreign coloi" . 2 to 1 

IJACK. 

Reddish shading 2 t^ ^2 

IMack spatters ^, to 1 2 

BREAST. 

Tight breast 2 to U 

White breast 'Ih 

BODY AND STEUX. 

Red in plumage 2 to 1 

\VI.\<iS. 

Black, copper or brown 2 to 1 2 



BLACK AND WHITE GAMES. 

It *is unnecessary to repeat what we have already said in 
reference to solirj colors. Purity of color, intenseiiess and 
brilliancy, freedom from foreign color, uniformitj" in the 
different sections, all these are to be sought in Games as in 
other breeds, and the lack of any or all of these is to be cut in 
proportion to its amount. The percentage system applies 
throughout. 

(tAME bantams. 

Speaking generally, Game Bantams are Games of a dimin- 
utive size, and should be identical in figure and color as the 
corresponding varieties of Games. The following measure- 



(ta:me Bantams. It',] 

liR'Jits, fiiriHsluMl l)y ]\lr. K. R. Spauldiiig, whose success as a 
breeder of Black-breasted Ked Games and Black-ljreasted Red 
( iame Bantams is a guaranty of the high quality of the stock 
measured, will serve to show the difference of proportion 
which exists between Game fowls and Game Bantams. 

No. 1 — (lame CV)ck. — AVeight, (i pounds; height, 2() inches; 
back, at hackle point, 17 inches; hip, 15 inches; from front (if 
breast to vent, 9 inches; neck, 9 inches; tail, inches; shanks. 
(■) inches; thigh, 7 inches; eye, from point of beak, 22 inches; 
head and l)eak, ;>'. inches. Eye over instej) close to shank. 

No. 2 — Game Gock. — Weight, 7 pounds; height, 28 inches; 
back, 18 inches; from front of breast to vent, 9^ inches; neck, 
9.^ inches; tail, inches; shanks, G inches; thigh, 7.2 inches; 
head and beak, o.j inches; eye, from point of beak, 2?, inches. 
Posture, as in No. 1. 

No. o — Game Bantam Gock. — Weight, 20 ounces; height, 14 
inches ; back, 9 inclies ; front of breast to vent, 5 inches ; neck, 
() inches; tail, 4.2 inches; shanks, o inches; thighs, 31 inches; 
head and l)eak, 2{ inches; eye, from point of beak. If inches. 

For more convenient I'eference we tabulate these three 
specimens: 

No. 1. No. -2. No. :'.. 

Weight 9() ounces. 112 ounces. 20 ounce.'^. 

Height 2() inclies. 28 inches. 14 inches. 

Back 17 " 18 '• <) 

Hip 15 '• 

IJreast to vent 9 " Or] " 5 

Neck •' 9.] " 

Tail .(i •' '• 4^ '^ 

Shanks (> " (> " o " 

Thigh • 7 " 7h " 8^ " 

Eye from beak 2.^ " • 2' " If " 

Head and l)eak . . ;;.', • ;}.J " 2', " 



174 



Philosophy of Judging. 



Comparino- Xos. 2 and 8, because the height of 2 is just 
twice tliat of 'A, we find backs in same proportion, jjody of 
ji:reater proportionate length in No. o, neck shorter in i)ro- 
portion to height in No. 3 than in No. 2, tail longer in pro- 
portion to height, shanks of the same proportion to height, 
thighs shorter, and beak and iiead longer. And yet No. :; was 
an exceptionably good Bantam. The contrast with No. I 
would have been more marked in some respects. 

In judging Game Bantams a due allowance should be made 
for this difference in structure, and at the same time breeders 
sliould be encouraged to bring u}» the Bantam to tiie exact 
figure of the larger fowl. ^Nluch, very much, has been ac- 
fomplished in this direction and the progress has been so 
great tiiat it is unnecessary to go into details concerning their 
judging. He who can score (irame fowls will have no difficulty 
in judging Game Bantams. 



Chapter VIII. 



AI'I'LK'ATIOX OF I'KIXCIl'J-ES TO TIIK f^COlMXC; OF 

rj[E DIFFERENT r.HEEDS, 

CO NT I. Mi: I). 



CKKSTEJ) KRKEDS. 

'L^ Oli twenty years, previous to tlie revision of tlie Standard 
■^ in 18(S;), the crested breeds suffered from a Standard and 
a Scale of Points made upon a false principle. The crest was 
the controlling section. To it all the other sections had to 
yield. The large value given to it made a tine-crested bird, 
though very inferior in other respects, a sure winner. A poor 
crest, though the bird was in other respects tine, gave it no 
place in the race for prizes. The inevitable result was that 
breeders sought to obtain crest at the expense of everything 
else, and wliile the crest gained the Avhole fowl suffered. Had 
this been continued crested breeds would have become 
extinct, or, if not extinct, worthless for all practical use. 
Under its pernicious influence size diminished — bones grew 
smaller, muscles Aveaker, and practical qualities suffered a 
great loss. And though this Standard was framed to encourage 
the breeding of exhibition specimens, exhibition specimens 
were bred in less numbers year by year until the crested 
breeds had almost disappeared from the poultry shows. The 
reason was clear enctugh to those who «ave it a little thought. 



l/(i PllII.(),S(»P[IV OK .JlDCINCi. 

The practical qualities are the t'ouii(lation of the poultry iu- 
iluKtry. Kol) a l)ree(l of utility, 'and br-^eder af^i>r b'^'eder will 
desert it iu disgust, until very few will be found who vil! keep 
the l)re<Ml. The beautiful Polish were once famed fur theii' 
remarkal)le prolificacy. Few breeds excelled them in eg,u 
production. But when bone an«l muscle had l)een sacrificed 
for crest, egg production rapidly diminished, constitutional 
vv'eakness increased, and he was a brave man who would dare 
to keep the foAvls. In 1SS;> a change for the 1)ett('r was made. 
The valui^ of crest in the Scale of Points was re<luced, and 
gradually the Polish has be(-n gaining ground and making its 
appearance in the poultry exhibition. The Scale was again 
improved at Indianajxilis in bS8S, and the Polisli inwl will 
gain thereby. P>ut not until the true principle is recognized, 
upon which the Decimal Scale is founded, that perfection in 
every part is of e(]ual value and that perfection of ])arts makes 
l)erfection of the whole, will the Polisli and other crested 
breeds gain the [)osition to which their merits justly entitle 
them. When this is done many more breeders will keep these 
beautiful fowls, and the numbers in tlie exhibition room will 
l)e multiplied. There will be a gain not oidy in practical 
(pialities, but in exhil)ition excellence. Larger, stronger, finer, 
more beautiful l)irds will l)e bn^l, and in greatly increased 
numbers, and the long rows of tnese highly oi'namental fowls 
will l)e a striking feature of our exhibitions. 

Tlir ('())iih and (^in^t. — In the crested breeds, the less comb 
the better, as a general rule, and natural absence of the same 
in Polish should not be regarded as a defect. If tlie comb is 
large it should be cut with severity, as size in comb interferes 
with the symmetrical proportions of the crest. If tlie cond) is 
trimmed it should be cut •] to 2^> points, for it is only fair to 
suppose that it would not have been trimmed if it were 
reasonably perfect iu size and shape. In the larger Polish, 
1 to 2 points will be a sufficient cut for all defects in comb. 
In Polish Bantams there is a dis(|ualification wliich ought 



Crested lii^EEDs. 177 

to reiKlcr the trimnii]i,u of combs a. (linqualification also, 
thoiigli it does not. In the single c«jmbed variety shanks 
other than silver or white are a disqualification, and in 
the V-cond)ed variety shanks other tlian l)liie or slaty 
blue disqualify. By dubbing the comb it would be very 
difficuU to tell to which variety the bird belonged, and 
the disqualification for wrong color in shanks would be 
rendered nearly nugatory. To sum up tlie cuts for comb, w^e 
would cut those with more than two prongs of equal length 
from 2 to 2 points, as prongs multiply and take irregular 
shape ; 2 points if single in shape; ■> to 2 points for excess in 
size; 1 to 2g points for amputations, as the scars indicate 
whether small or extensive. But more important than the 
comb is the crest. Size in crest is important but not all-im- 
portant. Shape, compactness and perfect fit, are of more 
importance than size. A perfect itrest is one that, with color 
Standard, is as large as possible and at the same time is 
globular in shape and fits squarely upon the head, the feathers 
presenting a full convex surface free from hollows and 
straggling feathers falling in every direction. The usual 
defects are want of size and irregularity of shape. The larger 
crests are most apt to suffer in shape, while the smaller ones 
are generally of better shape but suffer in size. The cuts for 
form will in exhibition specimens run from 10 to 40 per cent. 
For straggling condition of large crests, caused by the feathers 
falling forward, a cut of r] to 2 points is generally sufficient, 
and a like cut for want of size will be a just one in the majority 
of cases. 

The Head, Wattles and Ear-lobes. — The head of crested breeds 
is provided with a protuberance upon its crown, and this is 
governed largely by the size of the crest. If the crest is of 
correct shape and right size, the head will be found correct in 
shape. The nostril should be arched, and if flat should be cut 
1 point. The ear-lobes should be round, and if pendent should 
be cut 1 point. Wattles not of Standard shape and size, wTJT, 



17<S PlILLOSOlMlY Ol' JuDGIX(t. 

ill the uiibeiirded varieties, be cut .] t(.) 1 point, and in tlie 
bearded varieties will pass uncut, the defect being transferred 
to the beard. Size and shape sliould govern this, and for lack 
of either cut 2 to 11 points, according to the degree of the 
defect. 

The Neck. — The hackle is long and fine in fibre, giving a full 
plumage to the ne(!k and producing an appearance of short- 
ness not seen in shorter phiniaged fowls. This feathering also 
gives a full arch to tlie neck. The neck is seldom cut in shai)e. 
except for too great straightncss caused by the iiead being 
carried too far forward. For tliis fault ] to J i)oint is sufficient. 

, The Back. — The hack should form a straight line from the 
cape to the tail. The back not infrequently is more or less 
roached, and should for this defect be cut ■] to lA points ; and 
in case of a tie between a straight-l)acked and a roach-backed 
bird we would award the prize to the former, foi' the latter is 
a species of weakness and deformity, though not sufficiently 
marked to <lisqualify under the discpialihcation 'S^rooked 
backs." In males the saddle plumage should be long and 
flowing, and when it lacks this character should be cut 1 to 1^ 
l)oints. Saddle depressed or parted in front of tail, cut 1 point. 

TJie Bread. — If any fowl, other than the Bantams, carries its 
breast so far forward that it will touch a perpendicular line 
from the end of its beak to the ground, the Polish is that fowl. 
The fullness of its plumage assists in doing this. We have 
seen specimens that would fairly do this, but none that would 
exceed it. A profile made on life lines should represent this 
development, but as tlie fullness of the quarters deceives the 
eye, the fowl really appears to be more fully developed than 
it is. Hence our profile strives to present the true appearance 
and somewhat exceeds the life lines of development. The 
defects in the breast are wedge-shape and a loss of prominence 
to the quarters, and should b(! cut, as in other breeds, 2 to i 
l)oint for each. 



Crested Breeds. 179 

Tlte Bodij aiul Fluff. — The body should be tapering towards 
the tail, the sides well rounded, the fluff less prominent than 
in the American breeds, but not so scanty as in the Games. 
Shape needs little cutting, but if sides be flat, or fluff too full 
or too scanty, cut I to 1 point for each defect. 

The Wing>^. — The wings are large and should be well placed 
and well folded. For wrong carriage or imperfect folding, cut 
r, to 1 point, the latter seldom requiring to be exceeded. 

The Tail. — The tail is full and moderately upright. In 
shape it is almost always good ; in carriage as it approaches the 
squirrel tail it should be cut ] to 2 points. These large tails 
are carried in various positions, shifting froui one to the other, 
and demand the exercise of great care in deciding whether or 
not they come under the disqualification "wry tail." It is 
necessary that this disqualification be of a decided character, 
and in doubtful cases the bird should compete but may be cut 
from 2 to 2 points, according to the amount of variation from 
a habitually proper carriage. If more than 2 points seem de- 
manded we should think the bird ought to be disqualified. In 
<letermining whether the bird has a wry tail or not take the 
specimen in hand, the keel resting on the hand with the bird's 
head towards you. He will drop his tail, and in doing so will 
l>art the coverts and the saddle feathers. If this parting be to 
one side of the centre it will be safe to say the bird is wry 
tailed, for the division will be at the place where the bird 
habitually carries his tail, and if that place is to one side of 
the centre the tail is (>learly a wry tail. 

T]ie Leg."! and Toe.s. — For any departure from the true length 
of shank, which we show in our profile, cut J to IJ points, 
whetlier it be in too great or too small length. Crooked toes, 
o to 1 point each, according to degree, and from ^ to 2 points 
for enlarged joints of the same. 

In considering color we group the varieties together for the 
.sake of greater condensation, and for the reason that alreadv 



180 PhILO.SOPHY of JuDGINCi, 

we have illustrated the principles which govern color cuts so 
fully that the necessity of discussing- separate varieties doeK 
not appear pressing, and for the still further reason that the 
arrangement of colors is the same in several varieties, which 
enahles us to group them together with a due regard for clear- 
ness and consistency. 

The Comb and Crest. — The crest of the several varieties 
usually fails from 10 to 30 per cent, in color, and this per- 
centage should he deducted from its full color value. In our 
Scale we have given 5 points for color, and the cuts would 
therefore he from '> to 1.] points, and this will generally be 
sufficient. In tiie White Crested Blacks we have seen crests. 
that were fully 50 per cent, defective in color, and would re- 
<iuire a cut of 21 points to do them justice. 

Tlic Head, Wattles (did Ear-Iohes. — The i-olor of head will 
seldom or never require to he cut, as the crest covers it so 
fully. Wattles are usually cut onlj- for shape when cut at alh 
But the ear-lobes, which should be white, are often tinge<l 
with red, and should be cut h to 1 .] points, in proi)ortion to the 
amount of red shown. 

The Neck — The cuts for color in neck will seldom exceed i^ 
points, and will run from .] to 2. White in the under-color of 
the Golden, want of spangles to the tip of the hackle feathers^ 
a black edging running along the outer edge of the spangled 
feathers, penciling of the black in the centre of the feathers of 
the laced birds, dullness of hue in the Blacks, yellow tinge in 
the Whites and Silvers, any or all these faults may be present. 
In Golden and Silver Polish the plumage may be spangled or 
laced, neither having the preference, but in the neck plumage 
of both they are nearly always spangled. 

llie Back. — Pencilings in the centre of the ground color 
above the spangles should be cut ^ to 1 point ; a mixture of 
spangling and lacing, 1 point ; white in under-color of Golden^ 



Crested Breeds. 181 

2 to 2 points ; want of spangles on tip of saddle plumage, i to 
2 points; straw color in white specimens, I to Ih, and in males 
even 2 points may be demanded. 

The Breast. — In solid colored specimens the color cuts 
usually run from h to 1 point, and in the spangled or laced 
from 2 to 2-2 ]>oints. 

The Body and Fluff. — The color defects will be white in 
under-color of Goldens, dull, rusty color in Blacks, want of 
lacing or spangling in the parti-colored varieties, and usually 
are small, requiring a cut of 2 to IJ points in first-class speci- 
mens. In Goldens the thighs and fluff will darken until 
almost black is reached in the fluff. The average cut for 
body and fluff in females is 1 point; in males, i to 1^ points. 

Tlte Wings. — In AVhite specimens the color fails usually -^ to 
1 J points for yellow shading ; in the spangled and laced, 1' to 
o points for lack of spangling or lacing; in the Goldens, 2 
to IJ for white in the wings; and in the Blacks, h to 2-2 points 
for dullness of color and sheeny or white spots. 

The Tail. — White in the sickles of tlie Golden variety is a 
not uncommon fault, and is cut 2 to 2 points, and even oh 
points when sickles, coverlets and tail proper are all con- 
taminated with white. Yellow quills, excei)t in isolated cases, 
is the only fault in the tails of the White, and is cut 5 to 1 
point, the latter cut being seldom exceeded. Pale, slaty and 
small white spots are the usual defects in the Blacks, and 
require cuts from J to 22 points. In the Silvers, want of 
spangles to tip of sickle feathers and a clouding of the tail 
proper with black are defects, causing a cut of 2 to 22 points. 

The Legs and Toes. — Very little cutting can be done for 
color in shanks and toes, for a decided departure is reason for 
disqualification. A cut of i to 1 would be the extent. 



182 Philosophy of Judging. 

CUTS FOR FORM. 

comb and crest. 

Comb trimmed .} to 21 

More than two prongs i to 2 

Single in sliape 2 

Excess in size 1 to 2 

Want of size in crest j to 2 

Irregular crest 2 to 2 

HEAD, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES. 

Flat nostrils 1 

Pendent ear-lobes 1 

Wattles wrong size and shape j to 1 

Imperfect beard <t to 1 5 

NECK. 

Too straight -j to 1 

BACK. 

Roached 3 to IJ 

Short saddle feathers 1 to 1 2 

Depressed saddle 1 

BREAST. 

Wedge-shape 2 tt> 1 

Lack of prominence 2 to 1 

BODY AND J'H'FF. 

Flat sides .] to 1 

Fhiff too full or too scanty • . . 2 to 1 

WINGS. 

Wrong carriage 2 to 1 

Imperfect folding , . . . j to 1 

TAIL. 

Too erect i to 2 

Carried aside, not wry 2^-0 2 

LEGS AND TOES. 

Too long shanks 2 to 1 .> 

Too short shanks 2 to 1 2 

Crooked toes 2 to 1 

Enlarged joints 2 to 2 



C*HE8TED BhkEDS. -^^,y 

CUTS FOR COLOB. 

COMB AND CREST. 

Imperfect color (crest) w ., 

■ ' • 2 to IM 

MEAD, WATTLE.s AND EAR-LOBES. 

Red ill car-lohes ... 

-Ho U 

NECK. 

White niider-color in (lolden i t •> 

Want of s])angles .... 2 o _ 

Black edgin- \^^ - 

Penciled stnpe .... • • 2 to 2 

Dull hue ' ■ ■ ■ • • J to 2 

Yellow tiii-e ... ' ' ' - ^^ - 

• • • • . .Uo 2 

ij .,. . BACK. 

lencihng m ground color- i. 

Mixed spangles and hieing • • • • 2 

White in under-color ((h)ldeni . w .^> 

Want of spangles to sa(hlle ..'..'] ^^> 

Straw color in Whites . . "J ^ " 

, ■■ • •' to 2 

,.rv T . BREAST. 

Un color m solid colored 1 

Off' color in Snauirled 2 to f 

^ • * to 2^ 

IIODV AND FLrKF. 

White under-color ((lolden) . . 1 

Dull color (Black) ' . . . ' \^^' ^\ 

Want of lacing or spant'lino- "'.""■ ^tolj 

^ '^ ^ -Ho U 

Yellow shading (AVhite) i ^ 

Imperfect sj>angling 2 to ] ^ 

Wliite (Golden) \ . . \ \ ^"^ '\ 

Dullness or sheeny or white spots (Bhick) . . ' ' ' "^^l^ 

2 to '-•f 

White in sickles (Golden) . ..'...., 1 . ,^ 

White all through tail ((Jolden) *^ 01 

Yellow quills (AVhite) ^ '''- 

Pale, slaty or white spots (Black) . iT \i 

Want of spangling, clouded tail (Silvers) . ' '\^ '^ 



184 PuiLOSOl'llV OF JirDGlNG. 

I.I<X;.S AND TOKS. 

Faded slianks and toes i to 1 



POLISH BANTAMS. 

Only the white erest('<l White PoHsh Pantaius ai'e reeogni/ed 
by the Standard, thouj^li there are Silvers and (ioldens l)red, 
and there will in time j>r()))a])ly he a variety tor each vaiiety 
of the larger fowl. 

Among the Whites two classes arc recognized, the white or 
silver legged with single conibs^the original Pohsh Pantani, 
and the hlue legged with V-shaped comhs. Tlie latter, be- 
cause it possesses more of the true Polish characteristics, 
should l)e preferred, and we look for the time to come when 
only the V-combed bii'ds will be permitted to compete. It 
should be the object of the breeder to transform his stock to 
these characteristics as rapidly as })ossible. 

The Polish Bantam, like JUmtams in general, is shorter in 
the joints, shorter in plumage and shorter throughout than 
the full sized fowl, although it possesses the general Polish 
characteristics. Having due res[)ect to this difierence in 
structure, the judging of Polish Bantams will follow the rules 
for judging Polish fowls, and it is unnecessary to, repeat what 
we have said upon this subject. 




Chaptkr IX. 



VPPLICATIOX OF PKIXCIPLES TO THE SCORING OF 

TKE DIFFERENT BREEDS, 

CONTINUED. 



THE MKDITKKKANEAN CLA88. 

CTHP] Mediternmeaii Class consists of a group of fowls bav- 
•^ ing many characteristics in common, high single combs 
erect in the male, drooping to one side in the female, rather 
slender bodies, erect carriage, full tails and nervous tempera- 
ment. They are among the sprightliest and most active of our 
fowls and are celebrated the world over as prolific layers. The 
class includes the Leghorn with its numerous varieties, the 
Minorcas, the Andalusian and the Spanish. 

As not the least worthy breed, we consider first 



THE LEGHORN. 

The Leghorn is subject to no weight clauses, but has instead 
of weight a section denominated Size. 

The Size. — Size is scored by comparist)n. When too small 
the cut is 5 to 1 point, the latter when the birds are very small. 

The Comb. — Li the male should be erect, carried well back 
over the neck, deeply serrated and having five or six points, 



186 Philosophy of JuDCiixG. 

tlie former preferred. In the early days of the bree<l the 
eomb was very large, similar to that seen on ^Nlinoreas, but 
under the influence of climate and careful selection its size 
lias been reduced, and one of medium size is preferred. If 
there are more or less than the Standard number of points, 1 
point should be cut for every point in excess or deficiency. Jf 
the rear of the comb comes close down upon the neck it i» 
faulty, and should be cut 1 point. If it is narrow at the rear, 
cut 1 point. If the rear turns to one side, cut ] to 1 '> points. 
If too large, like a ^linorca, cut h to 2^ points. Very large 
combs are apt to be faulty in other respects, and are sometimes. 
cut as much as o points. Hough texture, cut .', to 2 points. 
The female's comb is judged like the male's, but must fold to 
one side. Uneven folding, cut ^. to 1; semi-erect comb, ^ to 
1.7, or more as need may 1);'. 

TJie Head. — For wrong color of eye. cut .} to 1 ])oint, the 
latter when the bay has faded into a yellow or pearl coloi'. 
Wattles that are too small, so as not to meet the retpiirement 
of pendulous, should be cut \ to 1 i)oint. Wattles torn or 
damaged by flghting, cut •] t<> 1 poiut. Head carriiMl forward, 
1 ])oint. 

The i\Wl\ — The neck should be carrie<l back so as to give 
prominence to the breast, and should be well arched. Cut a 
nearly straight neck 1 point; short hackle, 1 point. 

TJo' Back. — The plumage adheres closely to the shell-bone, 
the saddle makes a sliarp concave sweep to the tail, and were 
the saddle plumage like that of the Game there would be little 
difference in the conformation of the back. If the saddle is 
depressed by a squirrel tail, check the defect and consider it 
when the tail, which causes it, is judged. A short (lame-like 
saddle should be cut h to 1 point. Any tendency to roach 
hack, cut h to 1 point. 

Tht' Bira^t. — In appearance the breast is very full and cai-- 
ried prominently forward; in fact, the head and neck are 



The LK(iii<)i{x. 187 

carried so far back that the hackle flows back, displaying the 
wing fronts somewhat and tlie full extent of the breast, in- 
creasing its apparent size so much that one would suppose a 
line dropped perpendicularly from the point of the beak would 
cut at least two or three in(;hes ofJ' from the front of the breast, 
when as a matter of fact the specimens are ex(;eedingly rare 
whose breast would touch such a line. Only actual measure- 
ment will convince the sceptical, but that tried will satisfy 
any doubts. The breast should be very full in the quarters 
and the upper part exposed to view. For failure of prom- 
inence in front outline, cut h to 1 point, and a like cut for lack 
of fullness in the quarters. 

TJie Body and Fhiff. — The body in the male sliould taper 
towards the tail, the fluff" being rather scanty ; in the female 
the fluff is somewhat fuller and there is a more perfect apparent 
balance of breast and posterior weight. The body should' be 
rounded at the sides, plump and closely feathered, a medium 
in this respect between the American and Game classes. Foi' 
flatness of sides, cut A to 1 point ; for too scanty or too abund- 
ant fluff", 2 to 1 point. 

The TF«/(/.s.— Wings when faulty in form are so for bad car- 
riage or imperfect folding, either defect being cut I to 1 point. 

The Tail.— The tail should be full, erect without being squir- 
rel, and in the male furnished with full flowing sickles. Squir- 
rel tail is a common defect and should be cut .7 to 2 points. 

TJie Le(j!^ <(iid Toes. — A prime T.eghorn should have rather 
long legs, short dumpy legs destroying the airy graceful ap- 
pearance which is a true leghorn characteristic. A medium 
long thigh and a long shank add much to the beauty of the 
breed. The Brown differs from the White Leghorn in form 
principally in this respect. Its legs are shorter, and cuts for 
shortness of legs are much more common than in the White 
variety. The probability of the Black-red Claiborne (lame 
with the AVhite Leghorn as a component of the Brown may 



188 Philosophy of Judging. 

help to solve the reason for this tendency. vShort legs should 
"be cut 2 to 2 points. We have never yet seen a Leghorn that 
required to be cut for too long legs. Crooked toes cut 2 to 1 
point for each toe, the latter if the toes are decidedly crooked. 

CUTS FOR FORM. 

SIZE. 

Too small 2 to 1 

COMB. 

Too many points, each 1 

Too few points, each 1 

Eear too close to neck 1 

Rear too narrow ] 

Rear turns to one side 2 to 1 2 

Too large .... 2 to 2-2 

Rough texture 2 to 2 

Uneven folding (female) 2 to 1 

:Semi erect (female) lto\h 

HEAD. 

Wrong color eye ^ to ] 

Too small wattles 2 to 1 

Wattles damaged by fighting 2 to 1 

Head carried forward 1 

NECK. 

Nearly straight 1 

Short hackle 1 

BACK. 

Short saddle * to 1 

Roach back 2 to 1 

BHKA8T. 

Failure of ])rominence • 2 to 1 

Failure in quarters 2 to 1 

BODY AND FLUFF. 

Flat sides . •" 2 to 1 



White Leghorx.s. ],^<^ 

Too scanty flnft' • i to 1 

Too abundant fluff J to 1 

WIXGS. 

Bad carriage i ^^ 1 

Imperfect folding i to 1 



TAIL, 

Squirrel i 



to l> 



LEGS AND TOES. 

Crooked toes i to 1 



Too short less i to "^ 



WHITE LEGHORNS. 

In speaking of varieties we shall, of course, only consider 
color, for the form of all Leghorns is the same, or ought to be, 
and must be scored as of the same shape. In considering the 
White first, we do so because it has retained the true Leghorn 
characteristics through so many years, and has not shown the 
effects of crossing that now and then crop out in other varie- 
ties. We have not considered the Eose combed varieties, a.s 
such, because they are required to be identical with the single 
combed in everything but the character of comb, and the 
combs are scored as other rose combs, regard of course being 
had to their specific shape. 

The Head.—V^^Q are of the opinion that as a rule Leghorns 
are cut too severely in ear-lobes for want of perfect enameled 
white surface. We are prone to forget the percentage of defect 
and cut in the ear-lobe of Leghorns either without regard to per- 
centage arbitrarily or to estimate the percentage upon the full 
value of the section of which the ear-lobes form only a part 
If the surface is one-fifth red only 1 point can be justified; if 
two-fifths red only 2 points. Red blemishes, the result of fight- 
ing, should be cut less severely than if the result of nature, and 



]iM) Philosophy of Judging. 

when the cause is known the judge ought to govern liiniself 
accordingly. The phimage of the head will seldom he requir- 
ed to be cut, never beyond \ point. 

TJie Neck. — The plumage should ))e pearly or creamy white, 
hut a straw color or yellow tinge should not })e construed as 
creamy white. For this defect, common in males, cut o to 1 
])oint. Yellow or straw color in the shafts of the feathers, cut 
2 to n points. In the case of a tie a clear pearly white should 
win over one having a milk white — a white with a faint sug- 
gestion of yellow. 

TJte Back. — Yellow <»r straw color, cut \ to 1.] points. It 
will rarely be necessary to cut more. 

TJie Birasf. — Cut l to 1 point for straw color in shafts and 
surface. 

llic Bodfi mid Fluff. — This section is not faulty in color once 
in five hundred times. 

Tlic ir///(/.s'.--The most faulty section in the variety. Yellow 
quills in primaries and secondaries, cut .'. to 2 points; straw 
colored coverts I to 2 points. 

The Tail. — Color seldom requires a cut bevond 1 ])oint. 

The Legs and Toes. — A bright yellow leg, when the plumage 
is clear white, a difficult thing to procure in the males, adds 
greatly to the appearance of the bird. A reasonably yellow 
leg, such as may be described as dark straw color, should go 
uncut, and a light straw color in hens should compete on an 
equality with a bright yellow in pullets. The exhaustion of 
reproduction in a fowl which has no seasons of recuperation 
like the setting breeds, will bleach the brightest yellow legs to 
a pale yellow, and the nature of the fowl must be considered 
in correct judging. Black scales, cut I to 1^ points; light 
colored shanks and toes in chickens, 5 to 1 j points. 



UiiowN LK(iii<)i;Ns. j91 

CUTS FOR COLOR. 

HEAT). 

lied ill ear-lobes 1 to 3 

Yellow tinge to i>luiiiage | 

NECK. 

Yellow tinge to surface 2 to 1 

Yellow ill shafts . i to li 

BACK. 

Yellow tinge 2 to 1^ 

BREAST. 

Yellow tinge v"* to 1 

WIXOS. 

Yellow quills ^ to 2 

Yellow coverts 5 to 2 

TAIL. 

Yellow tinge . . 1 

LECiS AND TOES. 

Black scales 2 to li 

]Jght shanks Wo 1=\ 



BKOAVX LKCtHORN^. 

It is unnecessary to go into the details of scoring this variety 
for it belongs to the Black-red type, and in our previous 
chapters we have fully discussed the matter. See application 
of principles to Partridge Cochins and Black Breasted Red 
(rames. 

But concerning white or gray in the plumage, the scoring or 
disqualifying for which has occasioned nine-tenths of the 
trouble in the show-room, and has been the fertile source 
from which unreasonable protests have arisen, it is necessary 
to speak. In the revised Standard the disqualification reads : 
" White or gray in any part of the plumage except at the roots 
of the tail and under-color of the hackles and saddles, and the 
sickles of cocks." To disqualify, this objectionable white or 
gray must be positive in character, be present beyond a 



192 Philosophy of Judginc;. 

reasonable doubt, and must be considered with reference to 
the nature of the bird. All strained interpretations of this, 
clause should be avoided. Common sense and good judgment 
should govern the judge. If there is any doubt the specimen 
should be given the benefit and cut for a defect instead of 
being disqualified. In times past disgraceful protests have 
been entered for a thread line of questionable gray near the 
quill end of a primary feather, a defect that would ))e cut with 
severity if the specimen had been discounted h point. And 
such protests have been sustained and a Ho point l)ird, fairly 
entitled to compete and fairly des(n^ving of the first prize, has- 
been disqualified. 

Faded drab-colored s[)ots and tips in Ijrown and black 
plumage, if laid upon metallic black, will look gray or white,, 
but if laid upon white the full outline of the feather will 
appear and the true color will be seen. Such faded spots and 
tips should be cut .} to :> points. In many wings we see bluish 
slaty spots that aflVct the black color and are justly punished 
by a cut of ] to 2 points. Whether to cut or to dis(iualify 
should be first decided by laying the doubtful spot upon a 
white surface ; if clearly within the disqualification the speci- 
men must be disqualified, l)ut if there is any doul)t about it^ 
cut in proportion to the amount of defect present. 

It is also important to remember that the quill i)oint and tho 
iirst fibre of the feather in Brown Leghorns are white, that in 
fact, next to the skin the bird is comparatively white all over^ 
and that if the disqualification is followed literally there is not 
a Brown Leghorn that is not a disqualified bird. For this we 
ought not to disqualify, but if the white or gray gets beyond 
the under-fluff into the web then the bird must be promptly 
disqualified. White extending from one-half to one inch in 
the hackle should be cut h to 1^ points; white in under-fluff of 
saddle of the same extent should suflfer the same cut; white 
in under-fluft' of back, cut 1 point. White or gray (absolute 
in character) extending beyond one-half inch of fibre at quill 



B. AND 1). Lp:(ilI()RN. — B. AM) W. jMji\'()KCA>. 1 9o 

jjoint in tail, primary or Kecondary feathers, should (lisqualify. 
A single feather with a mere dot of white or gray sliould not 
disqualify — it would be a rank injusti(^e, defensible only by a 
too technical and strained interpretation of the disqualifying 
clause. We have seen birds disqualified for a spot which 
looked as if the color had been destroyed by a drop of acid, 
which, indeed, might have been the cause, and the rest of the 
pkimage almost faultless. If such an interpretation is to be 
had a judge would almost be justified in removing the feather 
to stop controversies, contentions and unpleasant discussions 
among exhibitors. Such interju'etation, however, ought not 
to be permitted, and if exhibitors will protest, will insist upon 
injustice being done that their birds, which are inferior to the 
one they protest against, may win. judges and executive com- 
mittees ought to stand firm and not weakly yield to the angry 
words of disappointed competitors. They will gain in the end 
the good will and respect of the majority of men, for justice 
is more loved and more lovable than injustice. 



BLACK AND DOMINIQUE LEGHORNS. 

These varieties require no more than a passing reference. 
For form they are scored as all other Legliorns ; for color the 
Blacks are judged like other black fowls and the Dominiques 
like Barred Plymouth Rocks. 



BLACK AND WHITE MINORCAS. 

These two varieties are very similar in shape and general 
characteristics to the corresponding varieties of Leghorns. 
They have, however, much larger combs, similar to those which 
the first importations of Leghorns possessed, are somewhat 
heavier in body and are larger l)oned throughout. If the comb 

13 



194 Philosophy of Jud(;ing. 

should be too small, say of a medium size like that of the high 
bred Leghorn, it would suffer a cut of 2 points, and generally 
for size the comb should be cut 2 to 2 points, as- it departs from 
the large size demanded in the breed. 

The Minorcas are, also, subject to weight clauses, instead of 
"size" as in Leghorns. The color of legs is different. 

In all other respects the remarks upon judging Leghorns 
apply to judging Minorcas. 



WHITE-FACED BLACK SPANISH. 

That there is a near rekitionship ))etween the P>kick Minorca 
and the White-faced Black Spanish is generally believed ; that 
one -was the progenitor of the other is not imj)Ossible, but 
which is the parent and which is the child no man knoweth. 
The Black Minorca used to be called the " Red-faced Black 
Spanish," and it would not be impossible to developethe white 
face from the wiiite of the ear-loV>e gradually encroaching upon 
the face, a tendency which is only too common. If such speci- 
mens were systematically selected and bred from, in time 
the white inv.e would be secured. The large extent which it 
covers would be secured more gradually, but we know that the 
surface has been very greatly enlarged within our own day. 
In the sixties the Spanish was larger than the Minorca, but 
we have seen them gradually changing places until the former 
is the smaller of the two. If the disqualifications in the face 
were removed and a uniform scale adopted, it would have a 
strong tendency to undo the evil that has been done in the 
past. The scale in the new Standard will greatly help in this 
work. Once Black Spanish cocks reached 9 pounds in weight 
and hens 8 pounds, but "how have the mighty fallen!" If 
the old time weight and vigor could be regained, it would pay 
handsomely to sacrifice much on face and ear-lobes. No breed 
shows more clearly the evil effects of breeding for a single 



Wjiite-Faced Black Spaxisit. 195 

feature tlian this. Tlie Spanish has couie well nigh being a 
white face and nothing else. Its deterioration Jias been due 
not to any inherent weakness in the fowl but to the folly of 
the breeders, who have followed a most pernicious Standard 
and ideal. 

In the Spanish we look for a tall upstanding fowl, clad in a 
bi'illiant black plumage. Short legs are an abomination. A 
slender long thigh, rather long clean cut shank and long 
straight toes are needed to give the bird its characteristic 
figure. Short legs, including thighs, shanks and toes, should 
be cut from i to 2 points, the cut increasing as the shortness 
produces a dwarfed appearance. The plumage is close and re- 
sembles somewhat that of the Game, making the bird look 
more slender than it really is, and this characteristic should be 
insisted upon and looseness of plumage when marked cut as 
a defect. The breast should be prominent, and if it fails in 
this respect should be cut 2 to 2 points, as may be required. 
The tail should l^e carried in a rather upright manner, and 
when too depressed or too erect sliould be cut h to 2 points. 
Scars in comb, showing that a fold has been taken out over the 
beak and the edges have grown together, indicate admirable 
surgical skill, but also denote that a twisted comb has been 
straightened and the bird should be disqualified. How far 
trimming is allowable is an important question. By common 
consent and general practice the fine hair-like feathers are often 
removed from the face, abiding to its smoothness and apparent 
surface and making the bird appear uiore atti'active. Such 
birds, because of their more attractive appearance awaken 
greater interest in poultry. At the same time no judge should 
be deceived. The birds should be judged on their actual 
merits, and those which are untrimmed in the face, and which 
if trimmed would equal those so treated should be considered 
and scored upon an equality. If this is done no great harm 
can follow from the practice. The resort, however, to the 
l)rutal practice of inserting wires or long pins into the comb to 



196 



Philosophy of Judging. 



insure its straightness and erectness should be followed not 
only by the disqualification of the specimen but of all entries 
of the exhibitor, and it would be well if there was added a 
complaint and warrant issued at the instance of the Society 
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

In plumage the color should be intense black with a green 
irridescence. Any section in which the color recedes to a dull, 
dead black should be cut 5 to I5 points. For bluish or slaty 
blue spots and faded tips in the primaries and secondaries, cut 
n to 2 points. If the face becomes thinly enamelled or 
wrinkled badly, cut J to 2 points, and the same for ear-lobes 
and wattles when the former and the inside of the upper part 
of the latter are other than smooth in surface and opaque 
white in color. 





'/Ma ll, .U;l 



^11 rg ///'!,; 



Chapter X. 



APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES TO THE SCORING OF 

THE DIFFERENT BREEDS, 

CONTINUED. 



THE HAMBURGS. 

CTPhE Hamburg is one of the oldest, one of the most beauti- 
^ fill and one of the most prolific laying breeds of the whole 
race of domestic fowls. It has the charm of an authentic 
history of more than two centuries, of a figure that is graceful 
and elegant, of plumage brilliant in color or accurate in mark- 
ing, and of great economic merit. Its six varieties are resolv- 
able into three classes, the Penciled, the Spangled and the 
iSelf-colored. The Penciled Hamburgs are of two varieties. 
Silver and Golden, alike in markings and differing only in 
ground color; the Spangled, of which there are two varieties, 
also differ in ground color, being white in one and golden bay 
in the other, and are somewhat larger than the Penciled; and 
the Self-colors, the Black being the largest variet}^ of Ham- 
burgs, and the White a smaller variety but little bred and 
very seldom seen in exhibitions since the Rose-combed White 
Leghorn made its appearance. 



198 Philosophy of Judging. 

thp: .spangled hamburgs. 

Our illustration is of the Silver Spangled variety. The 
white and black imprint is true in color as it is in profile to 
living specimens and is typical of the whole breed. 

The Spangled are somewhat larger than the Penciled varie- 
ties. They seem also to be a trifle longer in body and 
possessed of a greater profusion of tail feathers, but this is 
always the case in the larger variety of a breed — greater ap- 
parent length of body, neck and shanks, with no real de- 
parture in shape and proportion. It is quite probable that the 
Spangled and Penciled varieties are of diflerent origin; it is 
quite certain, that, though they may have descended from a 
remote common ancestor, they were developed under different 
conditions, the Spangled birds being of English and the Pen- 
ciled of Dutch breeding. However tliis may be, they are now 
and for many years have been subdivisions of one breed and 
are properly classed together. The ear-lobes in the Spangled 
varieties have a tendency to become elongated and pendulous, 
like those of the Leghorn, and, no matter how good in color, 
such ear-lobes should be cut a point. First as to the shape to 
which all varieties must conform. 

The Cotiih. — The rose comb of the Hamburg is, perhaps, the 
most typical rose comb we possess, the original from which all 
others may be described as departures to a greater or less 
degree. It should be square in front, of good size, but not too 
large, well filled up in the centre, the top covered with small 
points, and ending in a well developed spike which turns up- 
ward slightly. Such combs are difiicult to obtain, but are 
generally better in the Penciled than in the Spangled varieties. 
As a rule it may be said that the larger the Hamburg the 
poorer the comb The defects to be looked for are too great size, 
hollow in the centre, too great width, and a spike which is 
imperfectly developed or turns in the wrong direction. These 



The Si'anc^led Hambukgs. l\}[) 

defects cause cuts of from 2 to 5 points in the exliibition speci- 
mens. Too large a comb, cut I to 3 points ; hollow in the 
centre, I to 2 points ; too wide, ■> to 2 points ; spike too small, 5 
to 5 points, — we make this cut hirge as absejice disqualifies; 
spike turning down, J to 1 point. When the combs are so 
large as to obstruct the sight in front or wiien the spike is 
naturally absent, the specimen must be disqualified. 

The. Head. — The head should Ije both short and small. If 
either too large, oi- if long, like a (lame, it should be cut from 
5 to 1 point for the defect. 

The Neck. — The neck is tapering and' the liackle full and 
fiowing. A short hackle is a fault, not Ix'ing in keeping with 
the characteristics of the breed, and should be cut h to l^ 
points. If too short, too long or too straight, cut 1 point. 

llie Back. — The ])ack in its j»rofile line should be straight, 
the saddle having a shai-p concave sweep to and near the tail ; 
viewed from alxjve it should taper towards the tail. A roach 
back should be cut ^> to 2 points. The saddle feathers should 
be long and fiowing, and a failure in this characteristic should 
be cut t] to 2 points. 

llie Bremf. — The breast should be round as a ball in the 
<iuarters and forward sweep. If it l)c fiat in front or wedge- 
shaped, cut 2 to 1 point. 

TJie Body and Fluff.— A round and symmetrical body, with 
straight keel and rather short fiufi', is rcMjuired. For fiatness 
of sides or too abundant fiufi", cut I to 1 point, and foi' curva- 
ture of keel, 2 to 2 points. 

The Wings. — AVings are huge and canicd i-ather low. For 
})ad carriage or poor fiolding, cut l to 1 point. 

71ie 7'a.?7.— The tail should ix' full, well expanded, and car- 
ried at a moderate elevation but not erect, in l)oth sexes, and 
well fui-nished with long fiowing sickles and coverlets in the 
male. The Hamburg's tail is one of its chief points of beauty. 



200 }*iiiL().s(>iMiY OF Judging, 

If carried too erectly, cut ] tc* 2 points. If sickles and coverts 
are not of the right character, cut .] to 2 points; generally 
speaking, the tail will seldom be cut for form. 

The Lfijn and Toea. — The legs should be medium long to 
give grace to the (carriage. If short and dumpy, cut 2 to even 
'.] points when of a decidedly Creeper character. 

CUTS FOR FORM. 

COMB. 

Too large Uo 3 

Hollow in centre h to 2 

Too wide 2 to 2 

Spike too small 2 to 5 

Spike turning d(»wn I to 1 

HEAD. 

Too large Uo 1 

Too long .] to 1 

XKCK. 

Too short .] to 1 

Too long 2 to 1 

Too straight -Uo 1 

Too short hackle •] to li 



liACK. 

Roached Uo 2 

Short saddle feathcis ■] to 2 

lUiKAST. 

Flat .] to 1 

AVedge-shaped • ■ • • 2 to 1 

iSODV AND 1<M KF. 

Flat sides Ho 1 

Too abundant fluff 2 to 1 

Crooked keel Uo 2 



The Spangled Hamburg. 201 

WIXGS. 

Bad carriage 5 to 1 

Poor folding i to 1 

TAIL. 

Too erect 5 to 2 

Short sickles and coverts h to '2 

LE(;s AND TOES. 

Short and dumpy i to ;> 

There are but two sections in the Silver Spangled Hamburg 
which differ in color characteristics from the Golden Spangled, 
and concerning which it is necessary to speak. With the 
exception of the sections '^Neck" and "Tail," what we say 
concerning the scoring of the Golden will apply to the Silver 
variety by a simple substitution of a white ground color for 
the golden l^ay, with what that implies in reference to under- 
color, etc. 

The Keel-. — The neck should l)e of a silvery white hue, 
tipped with black, and the straw colored shadings and loss of 
spangles to which it is subject cause a loss of ^ to 1^ points for 
the former and .] to 2^ points for tlie latter. 

Tlie Tail.— In all its upper parts the tail is white, each 
feather being tipped with a round black spangle. If the 
spangles approach a crescent shape we cut I to 2J points ; for 
black streaks along tiie sickles and coverlets of the male or 
upper plumage of the female, i to 2 points. If, viewed from 
above, the feathers appear white and have the correct spangling 
they should not be cut. In nearly all cases, even in speci- 
mens pure in the white above, the under parts will be dark in 
color. If this discoloration is hidden from view, we would 
pass the bird, as only tlie upper surface is described in the 
Standard. 



202 Philosophy of Judging. 

THE GOLDEN SPANGLED HAMBURGS. 

The Head. — For wrong shade to plumage of head, cut, if 
needed, i point; for wrong shade to beak or wrong color of 
eye, h to 1 point; for white in the face, 5 to 2 points. 

The Neck: — If the neck is smutty, caused by the black run- 
ning up on each side of the hackle feathers, cut '. to 2 points; 
for white in under-color and wel) of feathers, .} to o points; 
indistinct striping in both sexes wlien stripe loses its greenish 
lustre or the shafts are light, .j to 1 point. Clearness and 
l)urity of both colors add greatly to the l)eauty and vtdue f>f 
the specimen and are justly highly })rized by breeders. 

The Back. — As the back loses its rich bay and clear metallic 
black it should be cut 2 to 1 point ; the saddle as it fades to a 
yellowish bay, 5 to li points, and h to I.3 points for a fading of 
the stripe to a dull brown or black. In the female if the 
golden web be penciled with black or if crescent-shaped 
spangles appear, cut h to 2 points. If the spangles become 
wholly (^rescentic throughout the whole plumage the bird 
must be dis(iuahtied. If the ground color is a pale bufi", cut h 
to 1 point. 

Tlie Breaiit.— JjOHs of si)angles or feathers laced, cut .] to 2 
points; if solid black feathers ai)pear, disqualify. 

The Bodji atid Flnf — White dots along the lower part of 
the body are of frequent occurrence and should be cut h to 2 
points. The golden bay faded to a light buff, cut •] to 2 points, 
and h to 1 2 points for crescent-shaped spangles. 

Tlu- ir/>/,r/.s'.— The under webs of all (pull feathers are a golden 
bay, upper webs black rounding the tip in a crescent form on 
the lower web. The bows are rich golden bay spangled with 
black, and a failure of round black spangles at the tip should 
be cut \ to 2 points, in proportion to amount of defect. The 
bars are formed by oblong black spangles at the tips of the 



The Golden Spangled Hamburg. 20o 

coverts. Two distinct bars are required, and failure in them 
is cut 2 to 2 points, as they depart from Standard requirements. 
Absence of distinct bars disqualifies. White in primaries and 
secondaries, cut 2 to 3 points, according to prevalence. 

The Tail.—B\'AQk is required. Cut i to 2| points for white, 
and 2 to 1 point for bay in the coverts. In the female the tail 
is seldom faulty save for a streaking of the coverts with black, 
which defect cut 2 to 2 points, as may be required. 

The Legs and Toes. — Loss of blue shade, cut 2 to 3 points; 
if more than .■) points is required, disqualify. 

CUTS FOR CO LOB. 

HEAD. 

Wrong shade to plumage .V 

Wrong shade to beak •'•... 2 to 1 

Wrong color of eye i to 1 

White in face .J to 2 

NECK. 

Smutty hackle .2 to 2 

White in under-color and web 2 to 3 

Indistinct striping . . 5 to 1 

BACK. 

Faded color 2 to 1 

Faded saddle ^ to li 

Faded stripe 2 to 1^ 

Penciled web 2 to 2 

Crescent spangles -t to 2 

Pale bulf ground color ., to 1 

RREAST. 

Loss of spangles or laced feathers 2 to 2 

BODY AND FLUFF. 

White dots .J to 2 

Light buff .^ to 2 

Crescentic spangles h to ]}, 



204 Philosophy op Judging. 

WINGS. 

Failure in spangles 2 to 2 

Failure in bars J to 2 

White in quill feathers | to :> 

TAIL. 

White in tail Ho 2.^ 

Bay in coveits 2 to 1 

Streaked coverts in female 2 to 2 

r;E(iS AND TOES. 

Fading of blue h to ?> 



THE PENCILED HAMBURGS. 

In considering tlie Penciled Haniburgs we shall confine our 
remarks to the Silver variety, because by the substitution of 
"golden bay" for "white" or "silvery-white" what is said of 
the Silvers will apply to the Golden. Just what term should 
he used in describing the ground color is open to question. 
The English authorities describe it as a " rich gold color," the 
American Standard as a "rich bright bay" or "reddish bay," 
while we would prefer to call it dark golden bay in the males 
and golden bay in the females. The following small difference 
may be noted in the two varieties. The brown or bronze 
lacings to the sickles of the (Tolden are somewhat broader 
than the white lacings to the Silver variety. With this note 
we may dismiss the Golden. 

While form is important, color gives the finisii to the 
Penciled Hamburg, and it is in color where the birds are the 
most liable to fail. 

The Head. — The plumage of the head is seldom faulty, never 
more than h point. A faulty beak should be cut i to 1 point ; 
the eyes if of the wrong color, to 1 point ; and if the white 
of the ear-lobe creeps up into the face, | to 2 points. White 



The Penciled Hamburgs. 205 

in the face disqualifies only in the Black variety, and in that 
only in cockerels and pullets. 

The Neck. — In both sexes the plumage of the neck should 
be clear white. The defects to be looked for are a yellow tinge 
and a tendency to a rayed or spangled appearance at the base 
of the hackle. For the former cut o to 1 point and for the 
latter ?] to H points. 

The Back. — In the male clear silvery white is required, and 
yellow shading found for which cut 2 to H points, as may be 
required. In the females the feather is white with bars of 
checkered black, the dark bars being wider than the white 
ones. The females seldom suffer from yellow shading of the 
back. If the bars are irregular or if the white be intermixed 
with black, cut i to 1 5 points. 

The Breast. — Seldom faulty in the male ; in the female often 
so, the black bars being affected with reddish white, and want 
of dark penciling marring the beauty and rendering the speci- 
men too light in color. For this defect, cut as may be needed, 
^ to 3 points being the usual amount. 

The Body and Fluff. — The body of the male should be 
silvery wdiite, showdng a slight penciling about the thighs. A 
clear white bod}- is a defect, as a male showing no penciling 
would be worthless to breed finely penciled pullets. The 
absence of a slight marking really deserves to be cut 1 point. 
In the female the body should be penciletl, and for failure of 
penciling cut h to J J, according to amount of defect. The 
fluff should be gray in both sexes, darker in the female than 
the male, a white fluff demanding a cut of 1 point if breeding 
values are to be recognized. 

The Wings — In the male the surface of the wing when 
closed is in the main white, but as the coverts, forming the 
bar in many breeds, are penciled with black in their upper 
webs, in deep colored specimens a faint bar appears. Such a 



20(i Philosophy of Judging. 

bar should be required, and certainly should not be cut, but a 
distinct bar must be condemned as foreign to the breed. 
Upper web of secondaries, with the exception of a narrow 
edge of white, is black or very dark slate color. The exposed 
part of secondaries, known as the "wing bay," is white. The 
black shows through along the upper edge of bay, and for so 
doing is not cut. Yellow shading to the bow or bay, i to 1 
point. In the wing of the female we expect penciled bows. 
Primaries, lower edge white penciled with black, upper web 
l)lack or dark slate more or less j)enciled with white. Secon- 
daries, lower web white, upper web black or slate penciled 
with white with an edging of white to upper edge of feather. 
Failure of accurate penciling in bows, cut .] to '2 points; failure 
of proper penciling in secondaries and primaries, ^ to 2 points. 

TJw Tail. — The defects of tail are excess of black in the 
male and loss of penciling in the female. Sickles wholly black 
or gray throughout, cut 5 to 2 points. White in tail proper, 
cut o to 1 point. Coverlets wholly white, cut 1 point. Wholly 
black coverlets we would pass uncut, as black with a very 
narrow edging of white is the perfect color of sickles, and in 
order to secure them it is often necessary to ]>ermit the cover- 
lets to be black, if at the same time we hope to secure a coal 
black tail. For imperfection of penciling4n the tail of the hen 
and for mossing in the coverts, cut from I to 2 points. 

TJw Ley^ and Toes. — The thighs will seldom need to be cut 
for color. The legs and toes should be blue or leaden blue in 
color. If all blue shade be gone, disqualify; but before dis- 
qualifying cut from ^ to 3 points. A cut beyond that cannot 
be given, and if required the specimen should be disqualified. 

CUTS FOR COL OB. 

HEAD. 

Faulty plumage ? 

Wrong shade to beak -Ho 1 



The Penciled Hamp.ue(;s. 207 

Wrong color to eye i to 1 

White in face i to '^ 

NECK. 

Yellow tinge i to 1 

Rayed or spangled tendency 5 to U 

BACK. 

Yellow tinge i^oii 

Mossing of bars (female) J^ to li 

BREAST. 

Mossing or failure of bars (female) i to :{ 

BODY AND FLUFF. 

Absence of dark penciling (male) 1 

Failure of penciling (female) ^, to 1 ^ 

White fluff ' . . " i"' 

WINGS. 

Absence of faint bar and color in wing bay (male) . . i to 1 

Failure of penciling bow and coverts (female) .... ^ to 2 

Holid black secondaries i to 2 

TAIL. 

Black or gray sickles i to •> 

White in tail proper i to 1 

AVhite coverlets " i 

Failure of penciling (female) i to 2 

_ - I^KGS AND TOES. 

Faded shanks i f^ ^ 




Chapter XI. 



APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES TO THE SCORING OF 

THE DIFFERENT BREEDS, 

CONCLUDED. 



BANTAMS. 

BANTAMS are popularly supposed to be exact reproduc- 
tions, on a smaller scale, of the breeds and varieties from 
whi(;h they are descended. A Game Bantam is supposed to 
be a little Game, "only this and nothing more;" a PoUsh 
Bantam, a petite Polish; and a Rose-comb Bantam, a diminu- 
tive Hamburg. That there is a close resemblance cannot be 
denied, but it is a resemblance, not an identity of form. As 
we have already shown by actual measurements of Games and 
Game Bantams, there is a difference of proportion, even in the 
most perfect specimens. This difference is one of a general 
shortening of joints and greater compactness of build. Ac- 
curate judging requires a recognition of this fact, and while 
we would not describe in words a difference in judging form, 
we would represent the varieties by illustrations made on life 
lines, and then apply the principles in the same manner. It 

14 



210 Pi[iL<)S()Piiv OK Judging, 

will, therefore, be nmiecei^-8ary to 0,0 into details tor jiidtiing 
Bantams. 

Bantams clearl}- indicate the need of ])rofiles in ju<lging, tbi- 
by profiles made in accordance with the anatomical develop- 
ments of nature we can represent the exact differences in 
shape and justify tiie less severity of cuts for form which 
really accurate judging requires. Every good judge now 
recognizes this difference in form and cuts with less severity 
the defects in Bantams than he does in full sized fowls. He 
may sometimes err bj^ too great laxity in cuts, an error which 
good profiles alone can correct. 

In judging Bantams, therefore, we w(juld ai)ply the ^Standard 
description of form in the same manner as for larger fowls, 
ever keeping iu mind the differences which nature makes, 
slight though they be, and would have these difierences rei)re- 
sented to the eye by profiles true to nature, by which the 
tlescriptive terms in the standard are illustrated. Profiles, as 
an illustrated definition, as a representation of the meaning of 
the description, as a guide in judging form, are needed in all 
<'lasses of fowls, and in none more than in the pets of the 
poultry yard, the ever popular Bantams. 

In judging color, Bantams and larger fowls are placed upon 
iin equality, and what is said of the one applies to the other. 
In this there is no change, for the colors are identical, not 
merely similar. 

In combs, to speak of specific differences, m'C find judges 
ignoring, in 8ebrights for example, the disqualification, 
*' natural absence of spike " in the females. In tiie males it is 
applied, but in the females nature does not produce a well- 
developed spike, the comb being so very small the spike is 
reduced to a mere point. Even if the point be entirely want- 
ing and the comb be what is technically known as a "clul) 
comb," it is passed with a cut of 1 point. Judges recognizing 
the work of nature are compelled to take this course, even 
though those who have more strength of lungs than knowl- 



Baxta.ms. 211 

edge, howl that the judge is lowering the Standard. But he is 
<loing nothing of tiie kind. Nature has made her Standard, 
and nature is the ultimate authority. All Standards which 
clearly violate nature in her best developments can be applied 
only by doing great injustice and giving sound cause for com- 
plaint. When correct profiles illustrate our Standard the 
vociferous ignorance of some will be silenced, accuracy of 
judging will be vindicated, and better results and a better 
understanding between exhibitors and judges will follow. 

With the Bantams we close our illustration of the applica- 
tion of principles to the scoring of different breeds. We have 
not taken up every breed and every variety, but we have con- 
sidered, we l^elieve, every feature which is possessed by all 
breeds and varieties, and in such detail that anyone who will 
master the principles can with a little experience become a 
good judge of fowls. It has been our aim not only to assist 
in the development of judges, but to aid every breeder of 
thoroughbred stock in acquiring the knowleds-e of judging 
which is so essential to him in breeding, in exhibiting and in 
selling. To breed successfully one must know how to estimate 
the value of his birds; to become a successful exhibitor, one 
should be able to select his best specimens ; and to sell his 
stock at fair prices he must know what each bird will score, so 
that he will not sell his highest scoring specimens for a song 
imd send out as exhibition birds those which are unfit for 
competition. We hope that this work, used in connection 
with the Standard, will in some measure accomplish these 
greatly to be desired results. 




'<«?^?ig^g;g,^5=5S^ 



Chapter XII. 



CONCLUSION 



^yi, CCURATP] judging requires, first of all, a thorough 
*"^*^ x study of nature. A judge must familiarize himself 
with the natural development of the difierent breeds and 
varieties. Unless he does this he can never know what is 
perfection in nature, for words and pictures are not alone 
sufficient to represent all that nature produces. They are 
aids, valuable aids. Their use cannot be dispensed with. But 
after all, they are only aids. 

He must also study his Standard. The requirements for 
exhibition specimens are laid down with care, the scales by 
which their value is estimated are therein given, and he needs 
to know them before he undertakes to apply them. They are 
his tools, and the use of tools is what makes one handy with 
them. 

He should judge with confidence. First impressions are 
generally best impressiotis. A judge "who hesitates is lost." 
The minute he begins to doubt, loses confidence in his own 
judgment, he will find himself revising and re-revising his 
scores until he makes "confusion worse confounded." 



214 Philosophy of JudctIX(t. 

He should judge all birds in the same hght, and the best 
hght obtainable. There is a vast difference in the appearance 
of a fowl in the dim, subdued liglit of the coop, far from the 
window, and in its appearance when brought into the full sun- 
light. Its excellences and its defects are alike concealed. This 
is true of all breeds, and especially so of the parti-colored 
fowls. . Take the Barred Plymouth Rock for example. To 
judge one-half of this class in the clear, morning light, and the 
other half in the waning hours of a winter's day, and do 
justice by it, is simply impossible. A cloudy or overcast day 
is a poor time to judge this fowl ; the two shades of blue color 
which compose the plumage require the best possible light to 
bring them out to the best advantage. Just in the shade, out 
of the clear sunlight, wdiere the light is clear but not glaring, 
is the V)est possible position in w'hich to judge the fowl. If the 
day be cloudy remove every bird from its coop to the window^ 
and let the light fall upon it over your right shoulder, doing 
the work between the hours of nine in the morning and four 
in the afternoon, and each specimen will receive even justice. 

He must handle every bird that is scored. Surface ap- 
pearance is often deceiving. The under-color may be faulty. 
The surface may appear so, but upon lifting the feathers it 
may prove but an appearance. Visitors, who only judge by 
surface color, and that, too, in the dimness of coops, often 
pass very unjust criticisms upon a judge. They forget that in 
the light in which they view the specimen, many serious 
defects may be covered and many great excellences obscured. 

A beginner, who intends to become a poultry judge would 
do well to begin by boldly scoring many breeds rather than to 
make an exhaustive study of one. By doing so he will all 
along be making a comparative study, of types, and will soon 
learn to distinguish a typical bird of any breed or variety. If 
he confines his study to a single breed its shape and charac- 
teristics will become fixed and will color his estimates of other 
breeds. He will be in danger of allowing individual types of 



CONCIASION. 215 

some sinuh' strain to warp his judgment and render him unfit 
to do justice to tlie real type winch nature makes out her 
composite of different strains. 

Ties arise which tiie judge is expected to ))reak. We often 
hear men say that if two birds score alike, say 9o points, one 
is just as good as the other. But is that true? Are two 
birds ever of equal value? Take two !)8-point birds and place 
them side by side, and will not there be a choice between 
tliem ? We have yet to see the breeder that would not prefer 
one to the other. And if there is a choice, even though it 
cannot l)e expressed in the total of the score, ought not the 
best bird to win ? In breaking ties there is one principle which 
is always safe to follow, that is give the prefc^rence to the bird 
that will be of the greatest value in the breeding pen. To 
))reak ties upon this principle, the judge needs to know some- 
tliing of the principles of l)reeding. The better ])reeder he. is, 
that is the better he understands the pi'incii)les of breeding, 
the better can he apply this ])rinci])le to the breaking of ties. 

Great caution should be used in disqualifying specimens. 
Disqualification is a summary method of rejecting fowls, and 
should be employed <uily when the disqualifying cause is 
positively present. Any reasonable doubt should be given to 
the bird and the fault cut as a defect. 

Among the disqualifications which arise to destroy the peace 
of mind of the judge is that lf)r })]ucking feathers, (to into 
any exhibition, and how many si>ecimens are thei'e which do 
not show some feather or feathers ren)Oved? If the judge 
reasons that these feathers have been })lucked, and disqualifies 
in a wholesale manner, he will bring down upon himself the 
wrath of the exhibitors; if he cuts for the missing feathers he 
may l)e ignoring the Standard. Yet as some of the feathers 
may have been moulted, or not have grown since the moult, 
although their absence may cause suspicion he may do in- 
justice by disqualifying. If there is evidence of recent pulling, 
which a close examination will disclose, he ought to disqualify. 



216 PlIlLdSOIMI Y OF Jui)<HN(t. 

Ill other cases lie can only lull back uj»on wliat good ju«lgment 
may dictate and a reasonable interpretation of the Standard 
requires. If the reniovals are extensive he will undoubt- 
edly find it necessary to disqualify, but if less tlian three 
feathers are gone it would, under ordinary circuiustances, 
es])ecially in some classes, be difficult to justify disciualiti- 
cation. 

Any clear evidence of mutilation of fowls to better their ap- 
pearance demands their i>rompt disqualification. We have 
seen, for example, a Hamburg's comb ujade over by taking 
out a triangular piece from the centre and the edges brought 
together to reduce its size, and tlu' leveling of the points u})on 
the top, and the corrugations remade — in fact, the whole coml) 
a mass of scars. And yet that bird won the first at an exhibi- 
tion in Chicago, where it was sliown by the imi)orter! The 
bird, of course, should have l)ecn dis(|ualitied. 

And finally, the judge should use care in his scoring, and, 
while performing his duties as expe<litiously as possible, should 
examine every bird tiioi-oughly. (Jreat speed, united witli 
accurate judgment, is attainable, l)ut only as the fruit of long- 
years of experience anil extensive ju^actice. It takes but a 
very brief time to thoroughly examine any bird, provided the 
judge knows his Standard and its intei'pretation. Fear, favor, 
and the hope of reward should not influence his decisions. 
The birds, not their owners, should be scored. In perfoiining 
his duties, the honest judge knows no man and cares for none. 
He sees a bundled or a thousand birds to score ; this is his 
task, and he sets alxmt it in a systematic way, disqualifies 
when he must, values defects according to sound ])rinciples, 
sets them down as they are, and lets the awards come as ihey 
may. If ties arise, he breaks them when notified of their ex- 
istence, as his knowledge and judgment dictate, and Ids work 
done leaves to those who think they know much more than he 
to criticise, praise oi' condemn the awards he lias made, with 
a sense r)f having done his dutv and a mind that is not dis- 



CoNCLrsiox. 217 

turbed by the criticism of friend or foe. While he would be 
glad to receive praise for his honest endeavors to do right, he 
often has to be contented with the bare consciousness of 
having done his duty as well as he could. The kindly word 
which would have cheered him is often withheld. But it is 
not always so. There are hundreds who recognize his honesty 
and ability, and whose kind words are as sweet incense to 
him. * The rose may have its thorn, but the rose is neverthe- 
less beautiful and worth the plucking. 



INDEX. 



TAdES. 

Prefatory note :> 

CHAPTER I. 

Introductory 5-11 

CHAPTER II. 

Profile ' 18-27 

Measurements of Plymouth Rock males 17 

Measurements of Light Brahma males 21 

CHAPTER III. 

Symmetry 29-35 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Decimal Scale 37-44 

CHAPTER V. 

Application of Principles of Scoring to Asiatics .... 45-107 

Light Brahmas 49 

Dark Brahmas 68 

Cochins 82 

Partridge 90 

Buff 94 

Black 97 

White 98 

Langshans 100 

CHAPTER VI. 

Application of Principles of Scoring to the American 

Class 109-142 

Plymouth Rocks 110 

Barred 116 

White 124 



INDKX. 

PAGES. 

Wyandottes 12-7 

'' Silver 132 

" Golden 140 

White 141 

CJIAPTER VI I. 

Application of Principles of Scoring to Games .... 143-174 

B. B. Red 154 

Brown Red 160 

Duckwing 164 

Red Pyle 169 

Black and White 172 

Game Bantams 172 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Application of Principles of Scoring to the Crested 

Breeds • ... 175-184 

Polish 176 

Polish Bantams 184 

CIIAPTEK IX. 

Application of Principles of Scoring to the Mediter- 
ranean Class 185 

AVhite Leghorns 189 

Brown Leghorns 191 

Black and Dominique Leghorns 193 

AVhite and Black Minorcas 193 

White Faced Black Spanish 194 

CHAPTER X. 

Application of Principles of Scoring to Hamburgs . . 197-207 

Spangled Hamburgs 198 

Golden Spangled Hamburgs 202 

Penciled Haml)urgs 204 

CHAPTER XI. 

Application of Principles of Scoring to Bantams . . . 209-211 

CHAPTER XII. 

Conclusion 213-217 



, , ,, Pl{ElttlU|« 



Winner of Twenty -Five Guinea CHALLENGE CUP 

AND 

Gold NIkdals 

AT 

CR.YSX.A.L P.^LACE SHOWS, 

Three Years in Succession. 



Championship of all England. 



At the Royal Jubilee Show, the Queen being: President of the satne, I 
won ist and 2d on Cock and ist on Hen. 



In three 3'ears I have won more prizes on EANGSHANS than anj' six 
English exhibitors combined. 



I will be pleased to serve American fanciers at prices ranging from I3.00 

to $100.00 each for males, and $3.00 to $30.00 

each for females. 



I refer, by permission, to I. K. FELCH, Esq., NaticA', Mass. 



R. J. POPE, 



BARCOMBE, SUSSEX, 

KXaivAND. 



jVLITCHKLL'S 

Partridge & White Coeliins. 



We have spared no pains to secure the 
best blood for the foundation of our strains 
and in our hands they have almost invar- 
iably won the first place. 

flt all the Prominent Exhibitions 

they are Winners and reach 

the Highest Scores. 

For richness of color and accuracy' and 
beauty of penciling thej^ are exceedingly 
fine, while for size and weight thej^ excel 
the noted strains of to-day. If money, skill 
and care can maintain them in their pres- 
ent position, which is 

At the Front, 

We shall niost certainU' keep them there. 
We shall be happy to give prices on fowls 
and eggs in season, on application. 



FOR 

LUhite Cochins, 

APPLY TO 

MITCHELL& RUSSELL 

Lock Box, 675, 
BRISTOL, CONN. 



FOR 

Partridge Cochins, 

APPLY TO 

GEORGE W. MITCHELL 

I<ock Box, 675, 
BRISTOL, CONN. 



A. A. AHDEt^SOH, 



BREEDER OE 



Plymouth Rock Fowls 



-AND- 



Collie Dogs. 



There is no science which demands more skill and careful 
attention to details than the science of mating and raising thor- 
oughbred poultry stock; especially is this true of breeding 

Plymouth Rocks. 

'} If I have "slipped in to the FRONT RANK as a Plymouth 

>. Rock breeder," as the American Journal puts it, it has been by 
I close study and hard work, and I may be pardened in saying 
) that I have bred birds for which I have refused |ioo.oo a pair, and 

those reaching the following scores by such judges as Messrs. 

WARD, PIERCE and FELCH, to-wit : 

Coeks to Seore W-] H^ns, 96 '2; Coekerels, 94; 
Pullets, 95. 

M}- stock have been winners ever}' where, and I feel I have 
the right to call 3'onr attention to it and assure yovi I will send 
such to one and all ordering that shall satisfy even the most 
exacting. 

Write for prices and particulars to 

A. A. ANDERSON, 

Oruggist, 



xxxx: 



WILLARD KNAPP'S .^^. 






Th's breed of fowls is noted as the 
layers of the largest, pure white 
eggs of any of the breeds, and 
produces as many in the year as 
the Leghorns. - - - - - 



Mx Strain tif tl-iem iT^as - = - = = . 

Won the Principal Prizes 

Wherever they have been exhibited. At Buffalo they won First, 

vSecond and Special on Kxhibition Pens, with the International 

Society's Gold Prize. These birds are all full standard 

weight, coal-black plumage, pure white earlobes, 

clear red faces, and have reached the score 

of 95, 96, 96^, 97 and 9714 points. 

Tl-iey Stand V>/itlT-out a Rival, - _ _ .. 

The Champions of flmeriea, 

And I shall spare no pains to maintain them in their present 

position. 



xs 

Xj 
xs 



For subsequent winnings and prices for fowls and eggs in their 
season, address 



WILLARD KNAPP, 

FABIUS, N. Y. 



R. B . S. HART, 

No. 286 Gai)o Sbreeb, f PROVIDENCE, R. L 

BREKDER OF" 

.■^f Dark Hrar)iT)as. 4" 



A genuine strain. protUiced by the judicious mating of birds direct 
from 

Lady Gwydyr, of England, 

with my own foundation stock, which for years I have been breeding- 
with great success. 



This strain is invincible in the exhibition room. IT WINS WHERE 
IT IvS SHOWN. At the largest exhibition ever held in the City of 
Providence; I showed fifteen specimens scoring from 

90 to 95 >^ Points, 

Which, considering the delicate pencilings so essential to this variety, 
must convince all that my general average equals that of 

Any Yards in the United States. 



My winnings have been on birds of my own breeeding, none having 
been purchased " to capture the show." 

1 Sell My Birds on Their Merits. 

EIGHT YEARS OF SUCCESS IN THE; SHOWS will, I hope, secure 
your confidence and patronage. 

i8®=Write for particulars and prices. 



i^HflPP Bnos. 



White Iteghorns. 



%. ® White Iteahorns. ® .o^^ 






Have stood at the head of the Ueading Prize Ciiinning Strain of this 
noble variety since 1SS3, having won more FIRST, SWEePSTRKE 
nflD SPECiALi PRIZES at the principal shows than all other strains 
combined. 

We have also bred that Celebrated General Pnrpose Fowl, the noble 

- White Wyandotte, - 

since 1SS6, and have a record on this variety that has NO eQUau. 



Higl-iest tlonors at NEW YORK, BOSTON, BUFFALO, PHILA- 
DEIvPHIA, INDIANAFOIvIvS, SYRACUSK, ELMIRA, UTICA and 
CORTLAND, and our customers have won the Lieading Prizes with 
birds of our breeding in Canada and nearU' every state in the Union. 

r>Tjr\Tr>-^ breeding and exhibition birds (reared on large farms 
^"^^^*^ and with free range) for sale at all times. EGGS 
from our Choicest Matings, $3.00 per 15, $5.00 pen 30. 

Our Annual Catalogue free to all who are interested, giving highest 
prize record ever won by ANY breeder of ANY variety. 

Address, 

KH A PP BtJOS . , 

UockBox,2. K^BILJS, N. Y. 




PRIZE WINNING 



Suff CscKirLS arid 
il^ight BraKmas, 



'I- 



Champions of the Show Room at Madison .Square Garden, New V'ork 
City; Rochester, N. Y., and Newbnrgh, N. Y. 



Smeeping Record on BaffS, AtNewbnrgh^X Y in thelarg^est 
^ ^ ' ' show of Buns of the season East, 

I won first and second on breeding pen of fowls; first and second for 
best pair of fowls; first and second for best pair of chicks, and first 
on Breeding Pen of chicks, including Silver Cup and seven Specials 
offered in this class, [I. K. Felch, Judge], this being only a repetition 
of the honors won at Rochester, N. Y., Fcbruar\', 1888, when the 
highest honors were given my birds over the crack pen of the In- 
dianapolis Show. In this show I won first and third on breeding 
pens; second, third and fourth on Cocks; first, third and fourth on 
Cockerels. 

Brahma Reeord. 

At ^Vladison Square Garden, Dec. 14th to 21st, 1887, \n\ Brahmas 
won first and second on Cockerels; first, second and third on breed- 
ing pens; first on Hen; second on Pullet. Brahmas bred by me, in 
the hands of my customers, during the winter of 1888-1S89, received 
scores ranging from 92 to 96 on Pullets, 91 to 94 on Cockerels, and 90 
to 94 on Cocks. 



MOTTO:— Good Stock at Good Prices for the Same. 



stock always for sale. Eggs for hatching in season. Send for 
Circular and Price List, and mention this work. 



miw. F. iw. sjwiTH, 



pine: HIL.L, N. Y. 



^ "STORM KING." 

IBpouun Egg Stnain of White 

WYAMIOTTES. 



Ill prtsenting 1113- claim for the best strain of White Wyaii- 
dottes in the States. I say that they are typical in every 
sense, my foundation blood in the females being white 
"sports" from my jiistU' popular laced variety; when inbred 
for three years they were mated to the cock, 

FRANKLIN, No. 6642, 

A prize-winner at Boston's immense exhibition, producing 
the noted females, 

MAUD, NO. 6644, SCORE 96^2, 
EMPRESS, NO. 6645, SCORE 96, and 
LYONS' BELLES, SCORING 93 TO 94^/^ 

Honest points. As sing'le birds, in pairs and in pens, they 
have been winners of first prizes in company with the follow- 
ing to which they were mated to lay the foundation of this 
strain, 

STORM KING, No. 6643, 

SCORE 95, 

America's model White Wyandotte male, and together were 
acknowledged as 

AMERICA'S BEST PEN FOR 1889. 



For particulars of breeding since which time and for 
prices of FOWLS and f;GGS IN THEIR SEASON, and for list 
of prizes won, with all other desired information, address 



J,, A. K. S. LYONS, j^ 

Greenfield, Mass. 



Heponset water proof paper. 



-Patented Dec. 28, 1885.- 







No. 1 

NEPONSET 

ROPE 

ROOFING 

FABRIC 



Is not affected by Heat, Cold or Rain, and will secure a neat, 
PERMANENT water and wind proof building, at the least pos- 
sible cost. There is no fal)ric now on the market that equals our 
"Neponset" papers. - - - - - ^ - 



The No. I NEPONSET ROPE ROOFING FABRIC makes a 
first-class covering at one-fourth the cost of shingles, and if 
properlj' taken care of will last as long. Used as a siding it pre- 
sents a very handsome appearance. We also make this in a No. 2 
grade, which is excellent but of course will not last as long. 
These papers enable you to use the cheapest of lumber. These 
papers varnished can be used as CARPETING. 



BLACK NEPONSET BUILDING PAPER is much better than 
tarred paper. Clean to handle, vermin proof, and is the best 
building paper yet produced. Used as a sheathing paper it will 
save fuel. A trial will convince you of its absolute superiority. 



MANUFACTURED SOLELY BY 

K. \\^ BIRD & SON, 



East Walpole, Mass. 



FOR SALE BY ALL DEALERS. 



KIHBY'S liANGSHAflS. 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 



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HaviiT^g WoiT^ at = = = = 

THE GREAT BOSTON 
EXHIBITION 

For 1SS7 and 1S88, in classes of seventy-five and eighty 
entries, securing" 

THE Silver Cup and Society's 
Medals 

B^or best Cock, Cockerel, Hen or Pullet, three out of 
the four prizes for males, all the prizes for pullets and 
three out of the four prizes for hens, showing speci- 
mens which won on the following scores, viz: 94^ to 
95/^ for cockerel; 96 for the cock, Champiox; 96 and 
96}^ for hens; and at the late 

buffalo international 
Exposition 

Three first prizes, with the Sweepstake Special Gold 
Prize for the best four males and four females, owned 
and bred b}' the exhibitor, scoring 96 points, am I not 
entitled to assert that I have the 

Best strain of Langshans in the 
UNITED States? 

And witli m\' -------- 

WHITE PLYMOUTH 
ROCKS 

I claim that I have the best Black and best White 
breeds of fowls for general uses. 



For full particulars of subsequent winnings, record 
of scores, and prices for eggs and fowls. 



ADDRE.SS 



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 

E. P. KIH^V, EAST CHATHAIV!, 

NK\^^ VORK, IT. S. A 



J. Henry Lee, 






V 



vv"^' 



.^^ A^o Eng 



^ 



.i- 



-^v 



4^ 






Wood Enjji^rfci^'ings of 



POULTRY, 


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AND 


PET STOCK OF 




ALL 


KINDS 





l\dfeici«e ttj Order. 



For a fair index of the qualitN* of the work, refer to tlie pictures 
bearing the imprint 



S^ 



111 this book and in the best Poultry Journals of the country during 
the past few years. 



Prices reasonable, but not in competition with those 
of any other engraver. 

CORRESPONDENCK INVITED. 



.XA 



The Fort Wayne News," 

DAILY AND WEEKLY. 

"POULTRY AND Pets," 

MONTHLY. 

THE PHILOSOPHY OF JUDGING.' 

Fine Book and Job Printing 
a specialty. 




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